Non Governmental Organisations have major role in protecting elders from humiliation

Tirupati: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have a  major role in ensuring the elders to lead a dignified life, free from abuses and humiliations. They should take up a proactive role in sensitising the people for safeguarding the rights of elders and their well-being, said HelpAge India senior official Shadrick.

Speaking at the `World Elders Abuse Awareness Day’ organised by City based Rashtriya Seva Samithi (RASS) here on Sunday, Shadrick said in the wake of growing incidents of ill-treatment and abandoning of elders, the NGOs have to  intensify their efforts for providing lively hood to elders so that they will not depend on their family.

He said that HelpAge India, through NGOs, had so far covered about 3 crore elders against the target of 5 crore in India under various welfare programmes including financial support to take up activities for livelihood, recreation facilities and also rehabilitation centres. 

RASS general secretary Dr G Muniratnam said that RASS has set up 70 Elders Self-help Groups (ESHGs), a novel initiative with a total membership of 830 for taking up economic activities. He said that RASS also set up Sri Balaji Elders Welfare society  (SBEWS) for taking up various activities for the well-being of elders.

RASS, through ESHGs and SBEWS, has taken up series of programmes for elders including medical camps, eye test, regular health checkups and treatment and also physiotherapy, counselling by psychologists to help the elderly people to overcome mental or emotional stress. About 800 elderly men and women participated in the meeting. RASS Executive Director S Venkatratnam and others were also present.