HelpAge India

HelpAge India is a secular, not-for-profit organization in India, registered under the Societies’ Registration Act of 1860. Set up in 1978, the organization works for ‘the cause and care of disadvantaged older persons to improve their quality of life’ HelpAge envisions a society where the elderly have the right to an active, healthy, and dignified life. It recently became the first and only Indian organization to be honoured with the ‘UN Population Award 2020’ for its exemplary work in the field of ageing, relief efforts work during the Covid-19 pandemic, and recognition of the organization’s outstanding contribution to population issues and efforts in the realization of older persons rights in India.

Currently there are a projected 138 million elderly in India. HelpAge India voices their concerns, so they can lead secure & dignified lives. It works through 26 State Offices across India, runs numerous programs, addressing elder needs and advocating for their rights, such as their right to Universal Pension, quality Healthcare, action against Elder Abuse, and many more at a national, state, and societal level with Central and State governments. It advocates for elder-friendly policies and their implementation thereof.

The organization’s programs are focused on direct interventions in the areas of Healthcare (mobile healthcare units, cataract surgeries), Agecare (helplines, senior citizen care homes, and day care centres, physiotherapy),  Livelihoods (elder-self-help groups; linkages with government schemes), Disaster Response (e.g. covid19 relief response), as well as Advocacy and Awareness on rights and policies relating to elders.