Agecare Bijnor Project - Helpage India Programme

Agecare Bijnor Project
HelpAge India-Vishokanand Vridh Ashram
/
Project office address
HelpAge India- Vishokanand Vridh Ashram
Ganj Daranagar, District Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh,
Telephone: 01342-281433
Month : March & April 2010 Volum I Issue I
Village Pradhan with local communities
Interaction with local communities
Serving the humanity without any expectations is 'The Service to God'
and to serve humanity is not just a tendency or joy but an 'Actual Bliss'
HelpAge India Vishokanand Ashram
Picture of the Ashram

ABOUT THE ASHRAM
The five-acre plus HelpAge India-Vishokanand
Vridh Ashram in Daranagar Ganj Bijnor, U.P. is
about 180 km west of the Indian capital of New
Delhi. The Ashram is HelpAge India’s pioneering
concept in Age Care and is located close to the
Vidur Kutir (an epic destination in the relic
Mahabharata). Located on the banks of the river
Ganga, the Ashram is cradled in the vast expanses of
mangoes, pears and jackfruit trees that offer peace
and tranquility.
AGE CARE PROJECT
There are virtually no associations/institutions
working for the interest of the aged at the micro and
mezzo levels. Medical & Social Security benefits,
although available at the rural level are beyond the
reach of many, especially those who belong to
marginalised communities- Dalits, women and
people living with disabilities.
The need of the hour is to create equity and a
society, which is sensitive to the rights of elderly
and the poor - to live free from poverty and hunger
and benefit equally from development which is
responsive to elderly care.
HelpAge India understands this need of the elderly
as an integral part of AgeCare and to address this
has taken the first step of providing improved care
and support to Senior Citizens.
HEALTH CENTRE
The first Rural Health Centre has been inaugurated
at HelpAge India Vishokanand Ashram, Ganj
Daranagar, Bijnor. The
Rural Health Centre was
inaugurated at Ganj
Daranagar, Bijnor, U.P. on
the 25th March 2010 by
the Local Government
Leader (Village
Pradhan). A number of individuals and elderly from
the nearby village graced the occasion supporting
the initiative taken up by HelpAge India.
OPENING OF HEALTH CENTRE
The Rural Health Centre Help Age promotes
AYUSH which is heralded by the Indian
Government as safe and low cost medicines for all.
It also provides check up facilities for blood sugar
and blood pressure.
DISCUSSION WITH SENIOR CITIZENS
HERITAGE TOURS
It has been found that this
alternate system of
medicine has been
accepted by
patients whose
numbers are
increasing on a day
to day basis. To
date about 60
patients are being
catered daily by
the centre.
Many senior citizens face problems of isolation,
boredom and neglect with growing age resulting in a
state of emotional vacuum. HelpAge believes that
exposure to the outside world, interactions with
others, and of their own age, would greatly help in
them regaining their lives.
Pilgrimages were therefore a norm in the bygone
era, whereas today while the desire still remains, the
elders seldom find ways of realizing this desire.
Therefore pilgrimage/heritage tours for the elderly
were conceptualized.
As an inaugural event, realizing that the Senior
Citizens who are
residents of
Homes for the
Aged in
Delhi/NCR are
desirous of
visiting the
pilgrim centers
of Haridwar
and Rishikesh, a
free of charge tour was organized for elderly
residents of Arya Mahila Ashram, New Rajinder
Nagar, New Delhi(Old Age Home) between 8th -
10th April 2010.
HelpAge India Vishokanand Vridhh Ashram, Ganj
Daranagar, Bijor Distt served as the base camp,
where these elders met members of Senior Citizens

Associations from Dehradun, Mussorie and Bijnor
as also Sr Management of HelpAge India.
The next day the elders were taken to Hardwar for a
holy bath at
the Holy
Ganges
during the
Kumbh,
maintained
to be the
auspicious
period for ritual baths. They also visited Rishikesh
and Lakshmanjhula.
On the final day on their way back to Delhi they also
visited the heritage site of Hastinapur , that was a
central hub
for political,
cultural, and
spiritual
learning. The
Hastinapur
Teerth Kshetra (Pilgrimage Centre) located in
Meerut District of Western Uttar Pradesh, also
referred colloquially as Gajapur, (Gaja – Elephant)
perhaps due to the number of elephants that used to
live on the banks of the river Ganga. The place was
ruled by an illustrious king ‘Hastin’ of ‘Kuru
Vansha’ (Vansha -Dynasty) who ruled here for
many years, and thus the name ‘Hastinapur’.
The Local senior citizen garlanded and welcomed
the senior citizen
coming from different
place and also
exchanged views. Sr.
Management team
from HelpAge India
participated.
The Senior citizens also briefed the media of the
Age Care activities of HelpAge India in their home
state, widely covered by the Print media.
NEWS PAPER CLIPS
Visiting Senior Citizens
found “the Ashram serene
& blissful” …. “desire to
stay at the Ashram in the
near future”
MEETING OF ASSOCIATIONS OF SENIOR
CITIZENS (SCAS)
Meeting of SCA was also organized at Help Age
India
Vishokanand
Ashram,
Ganj
Daranagar,
Bijnor on 8th
April 2010.
The SCA’s
from
Mussorie,
Dehradun, Rampur, Bijnor participated and
interacted with each other and shared their problems
and activities.

Appreciation letter received from Arya Mahila
Ashram, New Delhi for Organising the
Pilgrimage/Heritage tour
For more information Contact
Mr. Rajender Singh
Ashram Manager
HelpAge India Vishokanand Vriddh Ashram
Ganj Daranagar, Distt. Bijnor, U.P.
(01342 281433) (M) 0805 758 8122
Dr. Ram Prakash
Physician
HelpAge India Vishokanand Vriddh Ashram
Ganj Daranagar, Disst. Bijnor, U.P.
(01342 281433 ) (M)09997433240
Mr. Avenash Datta
Country Head Programmes
HelpAge India
New Delhi-110016
(011 42030407 ) ( 098109 58181)
Mr. S.K. Mukherjee
Co-Ordinator Age Care
HelpAge India
New Delhi-110016
(011 42030403 ) (M) 09810812159