Report - Helpage India Programme

Himachal Pradesh State Project Activity Report
Project name:
Himachal State Project
Project reference number:
Not Applicable for India
Reporting period: 1 st October 2011 – 31 st March 2012
Project Worker’s name and job title:
Dr. Rajesh Kumar, State Head
Current Projects in HP:
Project Code Name of Partner Agency Location
1000425 Manav Kalyan Seva Samiti (MKSS) Chopal
1000410 Society for Development & Environment Protection (DEEP) Kunihar
1000411 Society for Advancement of Village Economy (SAVE) Kullu/Una
1000432 Parvatiya Jan Shiksha Avam Vikas Sangathan (PJSAVS) Sirmaour
1. Direct Beneficiaries
Age group Able Elders Assisted Elders: Destitute Elders:
Men Women Men Women Men Women
55-79 213 266 175 211 182 289
80+ 7 5 4 8 25 15
Total 220 271 179 219 207 304
The direct beneficiaries of the SaG project benefitted by medical consultation camps, yoga classes,
physiotherapy treatment, cataract surgeries, free dental checkup camps, seed capital money for
initiating income generation activities. Also the trainings organized for the new ESHG and capacity
building trainings were helpful for the elderly to improve the knowledge regarding the management and
functioning of ESHG (Elders Self Help Groups), inter-loaning between the Group Members was a bit
support at the time of financial crisis in the elderly family. They also got benefitted by other advocacy
programmes and age demands action workshop, IEC material, awareness campaigns of right end
entitlements, general counseling sessions in monthly meetings for elderly. In the year 2 pilgrimage tours
were very pleasurable to project beneficiaries.
2. Indirect Beneficiaries
# of Indirect
beneficiaries
Older people
Family members (other than grandchildren)
Older Family members (other Grand Older Family members (other Grand
people than grandchildren) children people than grandchildren) children
1450 4645 1952 1132 3810 1106
The indirect beneficiaries were benefited by Medical consultation camps and awareness of parent’s
maintenance act, other family members also benefited by through the elders on the know-how for
income generation. The family members are also discussing on starting
livelihood activities involving the elderly people as well.
Project activities carried out in the past 6 months
Health Care
All the 4 project partners conducted 129 free medical consultation
camps were held in the year 2 and 1475 elders benefitted across the 4
project locations. These were organized at different locations
accordingly and sites were finalized in consideration to make

convenience for the elderly. Free medicines were provided with own contribution and partially through
the support of Government Health Department.
Most of the project partners consciously involved local Vaid*
(traditional medical practitioner) as this a common practice amongst
elderly to go for homeopathy and ayurveda medication. Yoga
practices and meditation classes were also held by the partner
agencies. Physiotherapy treatments were given to the elderly in
physiotherapy camps and also when required. 120 people benefitted
by the physiotherapy services in two districts.
Free Eye screening and dental check-up camps and Mega Camp (Health and Awareness) in Solan were
organized by project partners involving Health Department. The project partner succeeded in getting
two eye specialists, dentist and support for medicines & spectacles through the Department of Health,
District Solan. In Chopal project, MKSS got very little support of from the Health Department and rest
was arranged by their own contribution and local mobilisation. So to get the support of medicines
through Pharmaceutical companies we are now involving them in our programme activities. Hence, we
called Managing Director, Meridian Pharmaceutical, in Age Demands Action workshop at district head
quarter Solan. In Una Project, 136 beneficiaries were given free health checkup by various specialist
doctors - Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Ear Nose Throat (ENT), Medicine, Dentistry, Tuberculosis and
Surgery besides Ayurveda. The specialists examined senior citizens medically and provided free
allopathic and ayurvedic medicines. The combo physiotherapy unit, provided for the project, was also
used at the camp to provide physio-care to the needy beneficiaries.
A total of 53 cataract surgeries were done and 676 non-surgical treatments provide to the elderly and in
camp at Kunihar, District Solan 33 person were given treatment including extraction of teeth. Eyes
specialists were provided by the District Health department as a result of advocacy of federation. We
have also seen an inter-generational bonding of NCC school cadets and elderly in camp at Kunihar.
Organizing and strengthening ESHGs
Target of forming 54 groups across the state has been achieved. The
inter-Loaning helped them a lot at the time of financial crisis and critical
illness. 44 groups have opened bank accounts, strengthened through
trainings and organized them in federations. All the groups have
successfully started saving minimum Rs. 10-20 per month, inter-loaning
without fail. Federations are also performing well and as a result of
federation we succeeded to present a memorandum to State
Government for their basic demands in Age Demand Action Workshop
with elderly of district Solan and Sirmaur.
Training on Disaster Risk Reduction
Two-day training was organized at Shimla on Disaster Risk Reduction
between 27th February 2012 to 5th March 2012, for 128 representatives 64
ESHGs across Himachal Pradesh. Training on Disaster Risk Reduction was a
new experience to rural elderly and they all were very actively participated
in these training workshops.
Mr. D.C. Rana, State Project Officer-Himachal Pradesh, Govt. of India-UNDP DRR Programme
Department of Revenue (Disaster Management Cell) also gave valuable suggestions to elderly on DRR

and provided IEC material to groups. He appreciated the efforts of HelpAge India as it is working for the
good cause and making rural elderly aware on such issues. He also told that this training would be very
helpful to elderly in future.
Livelihood support
As new FCRA rule come into force in this period, three partner agencies
submitted the Form FC-10 to Ministry of Home Affairs with other
mandatory requirement for seeking permission to transfer livelihood
seed capital to ESHGs. One of our project partner received approval in
the month of March 2012 and the same was distributed in Age
Demands Action Workshop at Solan amongst 20 ESHGs. Grading has
been done for 46 ESHGs and the business plans will be produce later in
the month of April 2012. The groups are doing the income generating
activities like kitchen gardening, and federation level the District level federation have prepared the ‘Nav
Samdha Havan Samagri’. 4 groups are actively engaged in collecting, grading & packing of Navgrah
Samdha Havan Samgri and the federation will supervise the activities of these groups. Now the Product
comes into final position and ready to sell in market.
Advocacy:
Age Demands Action Workshop at Solan (common Sirmaur and Solan)
On 29th March, 2012 HelpAge India with partner agencies Society for
Development and Environament Protection (DEEP), Kunihar, District
Solan and PJSVS, District Sirmaur organized Age demands Action
workshop at Solan in honorable presence of Mr.Rajesh Kumar,
Assistant Commissioner, Solan. Mr.Vinod Gupta, MD Meridian
Pharmaceutical, Solan, and Mrs. Nirmal, Tehsil Welfare Officer. On this
occasion The District Village Elders Group Association (Zila Gramin
Vridh Sangharh Samiti Solan) presented a memorandum to Assistant
Commissioner Solan. The Assistant Commissioner appreciated the efforts of rural elderly for advocating
for their demand and assured that he would be pleased to forward it to state government and
honorable governor of Himachal Pradesh with his recommendations.
The Federation, Chopal presented a Memorandum to Sub-Divisional Magistrate regarding the state
policy for older person and requests to include the demands of rural
elderly in the policy in Himachal Pradesh. SDM Choplan Mr. Sandeep
Negi forwarded the Memorandum to Deputy Commissioner, District
Shimla for further request to Honorable Governor of H.P. As a result,
the Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh made an announcement during
the state budget session that the state policy will be formulated in the
next year. CM has also announced that Old Age pension would be
increased from Rs. 330/ to Rs. 400/- and elderly above 80 years
would get Old Age pension of Rs.600/- per month with effect from
April onwards..
Changes or improvements on the lives of the beneficiaries as a result of the project
After joining the SaGP Project, the elderly people of the project feel healthier as compare to their
past life as now they have facility periodical primary health check/primary medical consultation,
availing facility at their door steps.

Now elderly are ready to take initiative for advocating for their rights and entitlements. The
confidence level increased due to awareness raise on the government schemes, their rights and
entitlements and the benefits of getting organize in groups. Now the rural elderly are much more
confident to discuss their problems at big platform in front of government officials.
The Elderly Self Help Groups became the source of required exposure and support and a strongest
means for developing the habits of savings and cooperation between the members of ESHGs and
the community thereby.
The Age demand Actions, training, capacity building
programmes, recreation programmes under SaGP and
campaigns for the rights and entitlements of the elderly people
feel engaged and active.
The older people are now having their own organization i.e.
ESHGs at village and have some funds of their own saving and
some funds provided by the Help Age India as the Capital seed
money to be utilized by the members of ESHGs at the time of
any need. Now the smile of their faces clearly spell the change
and improvements in their lives.
The pilgrimage and the Elderly fair provided an opportunity to
older person to be together, share their experiences, and enjoy
gossips, putting on new clothes, singing and dancing
individually and in the groups.
Quality of life of the senior citizens is improving, as they have
greater access to clean drinking water, good health due to
provision of medicines and physio-care, grain access etc.
The biggest achievement had been through ESHG Federations
advocacy initiatives, the Chief Minister of the State declared increment in the social security pension
though marginal will provide for a bit support.
Challenges Faced in the Last 6 Months and Steps Taken to Overcome the Challenges:
New FCRA ruling had affected the project in substantial delay and later providing seed capital to the
groups as the clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs was received only by last week of the
year end.
Due to compliance issues in terms of non-negotiable programme components, two partner agencies
had to be dropped after the audit and the case load of beneficiaries has shifted to other partner
NGOs.
It has been difficult to select common livelihood activities due to the topography of the area; hence
groups have gone for individual loans amongst their members.
Organizing medicines during primary medical consultation/health checkup camps for the older
persons/the beneficiaries of the SaGP Project. There are only two sources available for getting the
medicines one is government and other one is pharmaceutical companies which are very few in the
area.
In maximum Villages where the ESHGs have been formed, there is no one who can read and write,
maintains their accounts books and writes the meeting proceedings. The area is highly scattered and
transportation facilities are also not available.
Organising a workshop on Age demand Action at state level but due to lack of interest of
government we couldn’t succeed, hence the ADA workshop at district levels and with the forward
steps of federations.
Government schemes are not reaching elders still. The criteria for getting benefits of the schemes
are too unfeasible. So we are advocating for the change at policy level.

The Project area is highly scattered, transport facility is hardly available, so physiotherapy and
Medical consultation camps were organized at a central location.
Plan for the next 6 months:
Grading and Business plan of ESHG’s.
Advocacy for their rights and entitlements replication from grass root.
More focus on IGA.
Market linkage where necessary.
Media sensitization workshop to raise elderly issues.
Linkages with other programme like Mobile Eldercare Unit where possible.
Building volunteer group through SAVE programmes.
Linkage with government schemes and other welfare schemes.
Strengthening the ESHG’s and federations.
Meeting with partner NGO for the planning for 3 rd year of programme
Planning to give more responsibilities to ESHG so that they can be more strengthened.