Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
March 2008
For private circulation only
Printed at
Printers Castle, Ernakulam
Contact details
Quilon Social Service Society
Fathima Road, Kollam
www.qsss.org, qsss@rediffmail.com,
Ph:04742797438, 2797428
I
am happy to present a brief report of the special interventions for relief
and rehabilitation of the elders in the wake of Tsunami disaster which
shattered the lives of people in the coast. Elders stood helpless in long
queues for assistance and it looked as though the sun set in their lives. the
partnership with HelpAge India family gave a new dimension to the Tsunami
response of QSSS. The notable feature of the partnership is the pardigm shift
in elder care. For the first time in the state self help groups dynamics was
successfully tried with elders and QSSS had the proud privilege presenting 98
“Where are the charms of spring, Elder self help groups covering 1223 elders.
Oh, where are they,
think not of them. thour hasnt thy tsunami ravaged village have come alone. Flowers have sprouted. smiles have
music too returned to the faces of children and the aged. New spring time has come alive
- John Keats with rainbow colors. and the message HelpAge India and QSSS proclaim
resonates “Elders don’t need sympathy, include them in the march to freedom
and development
Fr.Romance Antony
Executive Director
H
elpAge India is a National Level Organization working exclusively for Livelihood restoration 06
the cause and care of the older persons since 1978. The organization
extends financial support to highly credible Non-Government Livelihoods - Advantages &
Organizations for implementing various age-care projects such as Old Age challenges 07
Homes, Day Care Centers, Ophthalmic Care, Sponsor a Grand Parent
Programme, Income Generation Programme and Disaster Management. Promotion of
HelpAge India has taken numerous age care projects, networking with over diverse livelihood 08
900 other voluntary organizations (NGOs) all over the country at a cost of Elder self help group -
over 200 crores, all collected through individual and corporate donations. It A paradigm shift in
has definitely improved the quality of life of over 8 million disadvantaged elderly elder care 09
in our country. Mobile Medical units (MMU) are one of the programmes that
provide specific medical care catering to the health need of the older people Community based
who are often excluded form public health services. Promotion of Elder self granny care programme 11
group and support to micro credit activities stands out as a regular achievement.
Strengthening older persons’
CBOs 12
Advocacy programmes 15
H
through CBOs and from Govt list elp Age International stepped into Tsunami ravaged villages in Kerala
Verification of the list coast in the second week of January 2005. It was the proud privilege
Issue of ID cards of Quilon Social Service Society to partner with an agency of such
Profiling of personal data international reputation for relief and reconstruction in the wake of one of the
Distribution at public place. greatest disasters in recent human history.
Problems encountered Activities started with relief operation. Relief Activities consisted in distribution
Limiting the support to older of relief packets. Relief pack contained Provisions, plastic chair, clothes, vessels,
people alone at the stage of relief stove, mats and bed sheets. 3798 families benefited from this intervention.
was difficult to be accepted by the Minimum standards for food aid defined by the Steering Committee for
general community. Humanitarian Response {Sphere Project} were followed.Without food security
other humanitarian assistance interventions are likely to be less effective. This
It was a hurdle to find out the gaps intervention helped in the post relief camp life ensuring dignified existence.
in the service of various non Access to food and minimum household facilities accelerated return to
governmental organizations and normalcy.
Government
Since HelpAge India is an agency for elder concerns distribution of provisions
Distribution of food and utilities were continued for a period of one year in the form of social
pension under the scheme “Adopt a Gran (AAG) programme”. In this
items programme 200 poor elders in eight villages were supported with monthly
Supply of food items 500 units provisions and toiletries worth Rs.400 and a petty cash of Rs.100 for each
(Full package) Rs.2400/unit selected elder.
Supply of food items 1000 units
(Small package) Rs.398/unit
Livelihood Restoration
R
econstruction in any disaster ravaged village starts with livelihood
restoration. Livelihood activities are economic activities that people know,
own and undertake to earn income today and into the future. Restoration
of livelihood of the elderly who lost their valuables in the tidal waves was one
of the major concerns of the agency. It was found that elders were adversely
affected with loss of fishing equipments and other valuable assets which
contributed towards their supplementary income. The project mainly
concentrated on restoration of fishing and allied activities for the elderly..
Boat and Net Marine Plywood Group of 6-8 fisher men operates People from Alappad and
boats the boat Arattupuzha requested for slightly
bigger boats. So the distribution in
Suzuki out board those areas was delayed.The gear
engines supplied did not satisfy the
requirement of the fishermen who
3 types of nets needed different types of nets for
different seasons and to harvest
different species.The engines and
nets are usually kept in the
temporary shelter provided and
exposed to be destroyed in
possible fire accidents.Heavy
operation cost especially the
heavy price for kerosene.
Catamaram Fiber catamaran Agency adapted improved Technology is relative by new and
3 types of nets technology- fiber craft made by durability is not assured
local craftsmen with expertise.
Models were tried to suit to the
local sea conditions. The fiber
catamarans enjoy longer lifespan. It
is easy to handle and elder friendly
for maintenance. No fuel cost is
incurred for catamarans and hence
brings in more profit.
Dug out canoes Small sized for The canoes were provided to the
inland fishing beneficiaries of Arattupuzha and
Alappad. The elders use it for both
Big sized for marine and inland fishing and thus
marine fishing they could be employed during all
the fishing seasons.
Chinese nets Wooden It was an ideal activity for older Construction of the unit is time
structureFishing people since it does not require consumingGetting quality wood
nets much physical work but unit cost was so difficult.
is high.
Promotion of diverse
livelihoods
Fish vending: Coir making &Tailoring:
There are hundreds of aged fish vending women in Kollam who procure fish Coir making one of Kerala’s traditional
from harbor and sell it in the neighboring areas through house to house lending. crafts deserves support. We could place a
A unit of fish vending vessel worth Rs.400 and Rs.2000 as working capital was few elders in the trade. Advantage was that
distributed to each of the selected women in the affected villages. they could engage themselves in a skill they
were proficient in. Tailoring machines were
Petty shops: provided to some of our elders, having
Assistance was given to 25 persons in Alappad and Arattupuzha for setting up ensured that a younger person in the family
petty shops which were lost in Tsunami. Unit cost-Rs.25000/-. well versed in tailoring could take care of
the elder.
Duck and poultry:
30 duck/poultry units were funded as source for supplementary income. This Carpenters & Masons: Family members
intervention came as a relief for very elderly people who could have an skilled in carpentry and masonry were
enterprise in their backyard. provided with tool kits.
Strengthening
Older persons
CBOs
O
lder person’s organizations have emerged in various parts of the to 82 self help groups.
countries. We arranged a series of programmes to capacitate the
leaders of elders at different level to take up positions assigned to
Seed Capital transferred
them.
Village 2006 2007
● ESHG concept orientation programmes: Contents of the program were
SHG concept, Roles and responsibilities of office bearers, accounting Arattupuzha 170000 810000
procedure and Fund management Arinallur 170000 928000
● VECC concept orientation training: The objective of the training was to
Azheekal 170000 552000
make aware village leaders about the technical and procedural aspects of
Community based destitute care concept and their roles and responsibility Eravipuram 120000 0
in managing elder care. Kovilthottam 130000 364000
● Exposure visit of elders to Tamilnadu: The experience was brainstorming to Moothakara 25000 315000
the elder representatives. They could learn about the federation of SHGs
Neendakara 120000 490000
and micro credit schemes run by the federation in Tamilnadu.
● Training on enterprises for IGP: Basics in identifying enterprises for income
Port Kollam 200000 612000
generation activities, Ranking and prioritization of enterprises according to Thangassery 75000 455000
feasibility, preparation of a standard business plan Thirumullavaram 150000 630000
● Other training programs
Thope 40000 60000
Training on Disaster preparedness
Gender sensitization programs Vaddy 95000 222000
Training on Leadership & Group dynamics Total 1465000 5438000
the Concept level of negotiating with Govt departments. Now they are in a safe net enjoying
protection and renewed hope.
Elders’ ‘Kerala Punarjani Vayojana Samithy’ and enjoys legal status under Travancore
Cochin Literary and Scientific and Charitable Society Registration Act 1985.
Two members, president and secretary, from each VLF were nominated to DLF
and an executive committee of 24 members was formed and they meet once
a month.
Significance of Significance of District Level Federation
Village Level Federation
● Function as the apex body of all VLFs and ESHGs in Kollam
● Social security of village elders is the ● Initiating advocacy level activities for elders’ rights and privileges
prime responsibility of VLF ● Developing mechanisms to monitor the activities at village level and ESHG
● VLF is the coordinating body of village level
level activities ● Networking the elder CBOs with other financial agencies
● Monitoring and Reviewing of the ● Fund raising for destitute care program
activities of ESHGs at village level ● Lobbying and making recommendations to the government and other
● VLF can operate village level income service organizations for the welfare of the aged
generation activities ● Representing poor elders before public forums
● Function as a sub institution of Elders ● Assisting VLF through advice in running the savings and credit programs
for Elders Foundation trust efficiently
● Supervision of functioning of MPCCE in ● Function as facilitating agency of the activities of elders for Elders foundation
villages trust
Functions of EfE
● Advocating for change in stereotyping
of Aged
● Promoting a case that elders are
bankable
● Promoting enhancement of livelihoods
of the aged
● Furthering the ESHG movement
● Promoting community care for the
elderly
● Lobbying and advocating for human
rights of the elderly
Elders for Elders linkages with the Elder self help groups in
other states for making the movement
concrete.
Foundation Trust- Multi Purpose Community
A national level federation for elders Center
HelpAge India has constructed two
N
ational level federation of elders self help group - Elders for Elders multipurpose community care centers at
foundation trust - was formed at Cuddalore.The trust was constituted Eravipuram and Alappad for village elders
with two member trustees each from the four district level federations- with the aim of providing a common place
Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Vedaranyam and Kollam. Two trustees, each from to village elders for socialization, meetings
the 52 VLFs in the four districts, were selected and constituted a general body and to promote livelihood activities. The
of 104 and they meet once in a year at Cuddalore. It possesses a total center is also destined to ser ve as
membership of 7807 elders. temporary shelter to estranged elders.
Elders Week 2005: Advocacy was one of the major components of the project.The objective was
● Elders Mela to amplify the voice of elders to the Government, policy makers and society.
● Crowning of Elder King & Queen
● Cultural events Elders’ Week Celebrations
Throughout the project period National Elders Week was observed with a
Elders Week 2006: variety of programs.
● Cultural & entertainment programs for
the elders Demonstration of Elders at Thiruvananthapuram
● Super specialty medical camp An advocacy event at the head quarters of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, was
● Seminar on building coastal MFI organized on 30th October 2007with the intention of convincing the general
● Press meet public on the first ever movement in the world by the elderly for the elderly
● Students and Grannies meet for productive and healthy ageing-Elders for Elders Foundation trust. This was
● Elders Eve the first programme organized in Kerala for advocating the movement of the
● Elders mela 06 trust. 600 elders walked in the rally at the state head quarters and highlighted
the messages of protecting the elders by saying that ‘elders are the foundation
Elders’ Week 2007 of our nation’. Following the rally a public meeting was convened at Bishop
● Foundation stone laying for MPCCE at Pereira hall. Dr.Thomas Isaac, Hon. Minister of Finance, Govt of Kerala
Eravipuram & Alappad inaugurated the function. Theatre sketch and songs by ‘Kanal’-a folk team-was
● Poster making competition for School presented. Cultural programme of elders was a highlight of the day.
students
● Press meet by District level Federation
of Elders
● Elders’ Mela 07
● Punarjani Puraskar’ for best performing
ESHG
● Elders Eve and crowning the eldest elder
● News letter – Vayojana sabdam
H
elpAge India and QSSS adopted the concept of village immersion
programmes, a participatory approach which is a practical means for
Participatory tools used development professionals to learn directly about the lives of the people
Transect walks from the village itself.
Updating Social map
Trade in trade out Immersions are a useful means for experiential learning that can lead to a deep
Mobility mapping understanding of the reality of the lives of people living in poverty – and to a
Seasonality calendar process of rethinking policy and practice to be more effective in supporting
Time utilization chart their efforts to achieve better lives. They are likely to be most effective if
Income and Expenditure analysis integrated into a wider systemic process of personal and organizational learning
Livelihood analysis – a process that values reflection and relationship building as emphasized.
Community visioning
Livelihood enhancement action plan Revisiting of project activities during ‘immersion’
Logical frame work analysis Minimum requirement analysis: Villagers along with project staffs visited the
beneficiaries under AAG programme so as to ensure that minimum
Methodology adopted requirements are maintained for the security of elders.
● Discussion about the concept to the
project team Participatory grading of ESHGs:As part of transferring roles and responsibilities
● Primar y discussion and schedule to elders grading of ESHGs was taken up
preparation for village visits in the DLF
meeting VECC-VLF merging: For functional efficacy Village Elder Care Committees were
● Formation of VIP team merged into the Village Level Federations in continuation of the discussions
● Village stay with elders during the immersion.
● Application of various participatory
tools for gathering information Disease profiling:Discussions were drawn in connection with major old age
● Visioning exercises and preparation of diseases and the dominant diseases were identified. Mobility mapping exercise
logical frame work gave a picture of movement of elders to various institutions especially in health
● Preparation of village level documents care. Elders became conscious about the present situation and planning was
● Preparation of the report done for facing it courageously.
M
MU (Mobile Medicare Unit) was a pioneer project of HelpAge India.
It was launched in Kollam as Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme to
provide psychological and physical welbeing to elders, who cannot
afford quality health care. The unit was manned with a qualified doctor, a
pharmacist and a social worker dispensing free treatment and medicines to
disadvanged older people in 18 sites along the coastal belt of Kollam and Alapad
District. This programme aimed to enable older people to resume an active
role in life and society.
Achievements
● At the end of the project the team was able to provide quality health
services to 10000 elders.
● A speciality Arthritis camp was organised for elders to diagnose and treat
patients with arthritis handicaps. Free knee cap and braces worth Rs. 3000/
- were provided to 175 needy.
Project Team
HelpAge India
Rajeshwar.D, Dr.Sathyababu,
V Ramalingam, Elango Rajarathinam,
Joshua R Godfrey, Ajith Chacko, Ravi
Ranganathan, Satheesh, Subha.S.S,
Julie A Thomas, Shilly Joseph, Jacquiline,
Vinoth Kumar, Dr.Sharon George,
Johnson, Prince & Basil John
Quilon Social Service Society
Fr.Romance Antony, Xavier, Viji.R Vijayan,
Deepak.OJ, Suresh Joseph, Yazir Hameed,
Sujith V.R, Rasi RA, Prathibha, Praveen
James, Milkin Martin, Sebastian Valentine,
Abraham, Lenin, Joy Daniel, Samcy John,
Vimala S, Lenoramma, Santhosh & Anil
Aloysius
Thematic Areas
● Organisation of women into a creative
force for sustainable development
● Promotion of peoples bank for micro
finance
● Skill development for alternate
livelihood initiatives
● Mainstreaming entrepreneur
development ventures with credit and
market linkages
● Leading the destitute to planned
development through a package of
sponsorship
● Providing conducive atmosphere for
integrated development of children
● Support for excellence in education and
career orientation
● Shelter programmes to ensure decent
habitat
● Regenerative management of natural
resources
● Response to Disaster and Disaster
preparedness programme
● Combat trafficking and ensuring
protection to women and children
from trafficking