INDIA: HelpAge Releases Grant of Rs.3.86 Million in Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD, Andhra Pradesh (The Hindu), June 24, 2006: HelpAge India, working for the welfare of elderly, has released a quarterly grant of Rs. 38.6 lakhs to its NGO partners working for the care and rehabilitation of the aged in the State. Chief executive of HelpAge India Mathew Cherian handed over cheques ranging from Rs. 52,167 to Rs. 3.48 lakhs to 22 NGOs running old age homes under `Sponsor A Grand Parent Programme (SAGP)' here on Thursday. The SAGP programme encouraged individuals to sponsor basic needs of elderly people with no family or financial or social support through a monthly allowance. Of the 17,000 destitute older persons adopted under the programme, 2,800 were from the State, he said. Mr. Cherian said HelpAge was able to help 1.25 million senior citizens across the country through donations it raised. "But the figure does not even constitute 10 per cent of needy elders." The situation had prompted the Government to draft `Old Persons Care, Protection and Maintenance' bill 2002 which was still pending. Once the bill became an Act, it would give statutory rights to the elderly to demand care and support from their children and the State. HelpAge India State unit Deputy Director S. Dass said under SGPA programme, each needy elderly person was given Rs. 500 a month for basic needs. K.R.K.Reddy, director, Gautham Model School and donor for SGPA, said the aged with their rich experience were valuable citizens of the nation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Quarterly grant for 22 NGOs running old-age homes * Sponsor A Grand Parent Programme (SAGP) encourages sponsoring of basic needs of the elderly * Of 17,000 destitute persons under SAGP, 2,800 are from the State * Each needy elderly person is given Rs. 500 a month for basic needs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------