Assam - Helpage India Programme

NEWSLETTER- DECEMBER-2010 

H/N. 42, Anandanagar Sixmile, Guwahati-781022; 

Tel: +91 361 238330; Fax: +91 361 2611400; 

e-mail: guwahati@helpageindia.org 

EDITORIAL 

I take the opportunity to pen few words 

this month in the editorial column. 

Having completed six years of my 

association in HelpAge India in MMU 

programme with much learning, 

guidance from my seniors and gathering 

knowledge to work with elderly 

community is indeed phenomenal 

experience. This time Engineers India 

Limited have supported the vehicle, 

lifeline for MMU Guwahati. I on behalf of 

Guwahati team express my heartiest 

gratitude to EIL and our Head Office for 

the support. 

EIL Support towards MMU 

Guwahati. 

On 2 nd December 2010, Pibco Enterprise had finally delivered the new MMU vehicle, 

donated by Engineers India Limited to the Guwahati team. Since a very long time amidst 

lots of hassle and difficulty the Mobile Medicare Unit in Guwahati has been rendering 

services to the disadvantage elderly. On 3rd December the new vehicle was sent for 

refurbishment and on 14 th December the vehicle was ready and finally after a long wait 

the MMU Guwahati team was happy to have their vehicle. The breakdown of the MMU 

vehicle was the main obstacle on their way towards serving the elderly. With positive 

support and 

The team efforts to sensitize and 

mobilize elderly group to air their voice 

and stress in policy making in state 

government have come to the limelight. 

Senior citizens associations from various 

districts of Assam have joined us in all 

endeavours for implementation of State 

Policy of Older Persons and Parents 

Maintenance Act 2007. A platform has 

been created to echo the rights of older 

persons in the form of policy making and 

implementation at the grassroots 

involving civil society, non government 

organizations, trusts, SCAs and allied 

groups to address the needs. HelpAge 

initiatives towards creating space for 

increasing grey segment have been 

appreciated by the SCAs. In the wake of 

seminars, joint press conferences, 

meeting with SCAs in this month have 

given ignition to demand for State 

Government action not merely a 

document. 

cooperation the team as a whole has managed to fulfill the needs of the 

beneficiaries. The team had to hire a vehicle for months to visit the sites 

and to reach the beneficiaries. There are 10 MMU sites located in the 

nooks and corner of Guwahati. 

Rumi Devi 

Senior Executive MMU



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The beneficiaries are 

solely dependent on 

Mobile Medicare Unit as 

they cannot afford to buy 

medicines. When the 

beneficiaries were asked 

on different occasion they 

expressed that they are 

very grateful to HI for 

providing wonderful 

services and working for 

such a noble cause. 

Snapshot taken at time of refurbishment of 

the MMU Van by Kamrup Constructions. 

Apart from the 10 MMU sites in Guwahati, the team is also regularly organizing Health Camps at two 

different places called Khetri and Govardhan every fortnightly which is located in the countryside. 

Old people from nearby villages are seen visiting regularly the health Camps. Along with the free 

medicines and health checkups the beneficiaries also avail the combo therapy treatment. The 

physiotherapist regularly visits the health camps for screening and teaches them some homely 

exercises.



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Highlights: 

15-12-10 HI & SCA joint 

press meet at Guwahati. 

26-12-10- All Assam SCA 

Annual Meet. 

29-12-10- Seminar on 

Parents Maintenance 

Act. 

Agecare 

Urban 

PRESS CONFERENCE- DEMAND IMMEDIATE DECLARATION OF SPOP 

C 

ampaign on Age Demand Action continues by HelpAge India supported by the All Assam 

Senior citizens Association. Demand for immediate declaration of state policy was made in a 

press conference held on 15 th December 2010 at Guwahati Press Club. MR. Kamaleswar 

Bora, (president of ASCA) Mr.Dhiren Chakravartty, (chief secretary of ASCA), MR. Prafulla Kumar 

Mahanta, cultural and publicity secretary and MR Nilondra Tanya, Senior Manager Programme 

briefed the media about the demand of immediate implementation of the State policy for older



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person in Assam. They highlighted that inspite of the National policy of Older Person and the 

Parents Maintenance Act 2007, the state government has failed to meet the needs of the 

destitude elderly. They cited the example of other states like Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Goa 

where the old age pension is comparatively high than Assam as it has a contribution of both 

state and the central Government,(200Rs from central government + 800Rs from state 

Government =1000 Rs) per month. But the amount in Assam is just 250 rupees per month. They 

expressed their dissatisfaction that in Assam there is neither provision for geriatric treatment nor 

any facilities for senior citizens. Reporters from The Assam Tribune, Telegraph, Dainik Assam, 

Pratidin, Prantik and Uddipan were present. 

SCA MOBILIZATION: 

Barsha and Rituraj addressing the gathering at the All Assam Senior 

Citizens Annual Meet 2010 

All Assam Senior Citizens Association’s annual meet held on 26 th December 2010 at 

Guwahati. The objective of the meeting was the amendment of their constitution. 

SCAs from 20 districts of Assam participated in the meeting. Barsha highlighted 

HelpAge India Toll Free Helpline Number services. The participants appreciated 

HelpAge India initiatives and requested to hold meetings with different SCAs in 

different districts of Assam with a view to strengthen effectively collaborations 

between HelpAge India and different SCAs.


Seminar on Parents Maintenance Act,2007 


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A seminar on Parents Maintenance, Act 2007 was 

organized on December 29, 2010 in Guwahati under Urban 

Agecare Programme. 20 participants from six different 

Guwahati based Senior Citizen Associations took part in 

the seminar. Shri D.N Chakravartty, the General Secretary 

of All Assam Senior Citizens was the president in the 

meeting. 

Mr Nilondra Tanya Addressing the gathering 

The objectives of the seminar were: 

1. To mobilize the SCAs & create awareness among the people 

about the implementation of the Parents’ Maintenance Act, 

2007. 

2. To know the view points from the participants about the 

implementation of the Act in Assam. 

3. Compile suggestions of the SCAs in the implementation of 

the Act that will be forwarded to the Assam government 

social welfare department. 

Barsha distributing the copies of the Act 

It was also felt that government of Assam should create 

a separate department to look into the issues concerning 

the senior citizens in the state. The members suggested 

that the government should start a toll free helpline 

Mr .D N Chakravartty presiding over the meeting 

The members’ present expressed displeasure for nonimplementation 

of the Act despite three years of its 

promulgation. The members further felt that the 

government of Assam has not done enough in generating 

awareness about the Act. The members also expressed 

that Act should be translated in Assamese and copies of 

the same should be made available to members of all 

senior citizens associations in Assam for better 

understanding. They also felt that level of awareness 

about the existence of the Act is very low and that more 

discussions through seminar should be organized at 

various places to generate awareness about the act. 

number to facilitate the senior citizens register their complaints 

based on which the maintenance officer under the Act should investigate the matter and take appropriate action. 

Mr. Nilondra Tanya highlighted the importance of HelpAge India Toll Free Elders’ Helpline No-1800-345-12523, running 

since last one year. All the members present appreciated the initiative of HelpAge India through its helpline number. 

Following suggestions were received in the seminar: 

1. Translation of the Act in Assamese and other local languages. 

2. Create mass awareness about the Act through different forms 

of advertisement & publicity. 

3. Organize series of seminars at different places in Assam. 

4. Translation of the Act in Assamese and other local languages. 

5. Create mass awareness about the Act through different forms 

of advertisement & publicity. 

6. Organize series of seminars at different places in Assam.



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SAGP : 

BUSINESS PLAN DISCUSSION WITH ESHGs 

Mr. Mamtaz Ali and Mr Nilondra Tanya addressed the gathering at kethri. After the formation of 13 SHGs in Khetri a meeting 

was organized by the Khetri animator Mrs. Minu Das. In the meeting all the groups discussed their business plans. Since each 

group needs to have a bank account, forms were distributed among each groups which will be filled in and submitted in the 

bank by the animator. The SHGs group showed their enthusiasm to work even at the old age and definitely will set an example 

for others.



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Physiotherapy case study – December 2010 

Name: Dhaneswar Das 

Age: 75 yrs 

Gender: male 

Address: Rukmimni goan, Guwahati 

Center Name: Guwahati HI Physiotherapy Center 

Reg no: 744/10 

Diagnosis: Weakness in his left leg. Difficulty in walking. 

Dhaneswar Das doing exercises in HI 

Physiotherapy Centre 

Since last 30 yrs Mr. Dhaneswar Das, 75 lives alone at Rukmini goan. He retired as Govt. employee. For the last 1 

year he has been getting difficulty while walking because of his left leg weakness. He has an H/O Left sided 

hemiplegia 10 years ago. Since then he is taking physiotherapy treatment and found beneficial. 

Dhaneswar first came to HI physiotherapy centre on reading newspaper report in a local daily. 

Rituraj Bhuyan, Physiotherapy consultant has been providing him treatments - Isometric quadriceps exercise. 

Bridging exercise for hip joint, strengthening exercises for knee, hip, ankle, TA stretching, quadriceps table 

exercise, static bicycle exercise. 

After attending 15 treatment sessions his ROM & strength of the lower limb joints have increased. Now he feels 

better & quite happy with the services provided by the Physiotherapy center HelpAge India, Guwahati. Now he 

attends at the centre twice in a week. 

Print Media Coverage in the month of December 2010.



Tel: +91 361 238330; Fax: +91 361 2611400; 


IMPACT OF SCA MOBILISATION 

SCAs demand for joint representation to the social welfare minister, 

government of Assam for immediate: 

a) declaration of state policy; 

b) implementation of parents’ maintenance act 2007; 

c) extend support & collaboration to HelpAge India initiatives in 

Assam; 

d) organize series of meetings/ seminars with district level SCAs 

e) media sensitization on agecare issues; 

f) strengthened HI collaborations with SCAs;

Assam - Helpage India Programme

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