VOICES OF ELDERLY recommendations- Madrid Plan of Action Mathew Cherian Chief Executive, HelpAge India

Older persons Access to Food, Shelter and Medical Care Older persons Access to Food, Shelter and Medical Care  Rushed to Tsunami Areas on 27 Dec  Treatment started for all for injuries, and other ailments  Moved Vans from Bangalore, Chennai and Coimbatore to the coast  Use of about 200 volunteers from colleges in Tamilandu and doctors.  Health needs continue from day 1 all through the year.  Major ailments are respiratory and lung infections in older persons.  Ensure access to care.

Restoring livelihoods and income- Disaster Programmes need to focus on livelihoods for elderly  Kallipattu, Kovalam 50 kms south of Chennai  Lost all members of family  Now runs a saree shop.  Specific destitute elderly have been taken by HelpAge ( 2000 elders under Adopt a Gran)

HelpAge provided Access to Food with Dignity older persons Month 0+..1m  Leelama 72 collecting food rations at Cuddalore.  Many older people complained of unsuitability of food supplied by other agencies during relief operations  Many complained that they were unable to stand in long queues  Many complained that they could’nt compete with younger people.

Acess to TraumaCounselling Month 1+.. Grief Counselling  Immediate needs were food and temporary shelter.  After that psycho social needs were addressed.  Counselling to older women and men, varying sleep disorders detected  HelpAge mobile medical units along with Psycho Social counselor

Income Security and Social Security provisions of Social pensions- Lobbying with Govt( GO 380)  HelpAge India managed to release social pensions for social security. Inclusion of dalits and lower castes in the list. Photos and enrollment organised by HelpAge for Govt.  Important achievement as 6 months pending pensions were paid by Government for all poor elderly right across the coast of Tamilnadu, and temporary ration cards (many were lost)  Ensuring a regular cash income post Disaster is important for all people more so for the elderly.

Participation of Older People -Boats for 300 older persons- Livelihoods Month 4 +  Livelihood Restoration in Elderly self Help Groups in fishing communities ( 128 ESHG’s formed)  Group formation is essential for taking care of group needs and day care when growing older  Assets and title in the name of older persons

THE HOLDING STRUCTURE- THE FUTURE – REDUCTION OF POVERTY BOTTOM UP – DEMAND SIDE

Month 6- Community Centres for Day Care  Multi-purpose Community Centres for the elderly and construction and maintenance of a cyclone resistant shelter.  Long term support necessary for elders in groups.HelpAge India prefers this approach and has left home construction to Government agencies.  Prevention from displacement is an important issue relating to protection of elders.

Advocacy with other agencies and the government  Older people are equally affected, people from lower castes need special attention.  Agencies need to look at special needs of elderly  Pensions, Rations and Cash transfers are necessary post disaster.  Livelihoods in Groups and Long term protection  Day Care and Community Care for elderly  Report released by Chairman Planning Comission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia  UNDP supported Tamil Nadu Tsunami Resource Centre organized a workshop on “Women and Elderly in Tsunami” on the 31st August’05 in Chennai. HelpAge India made its recommendations and organised the event.

One year later  Candle light memorial on the beach..

Lessons learnt  Recovery is more than just cash relief  Partnerships are the key to recovery and HelpAge India and International and local NGO’s worked together. The Local NGOs provided the local knowledge.  Older people can also help in all phases of work.  Community Groups are important in recovery process.  Cash transfer and social pensions are useful methods in recovery of older people.  Transparency and Accountability are important and our social mapping and information has helped in community programmes  Social infrastructure AND FUTURE needs to be built after disasters.