Saturday, October 15, 2011

HelpAge India: Bringing a smile to aged and homeless

HelpAge is a registered, secular, apolitical, non-profit and a non-governmental national organization working for the cause and care of Older Persons, with the aim to improve the quality of their lives and empowering them.
Over the years HelpAge India has changed its orientation from implementing welfare projects to those that focus on development. It now lays stress on income-generation and micro-credit projects that enable the participation of Older Persons in the mainstream of society.

Born in the hilly town of Kozhenchery in the sylvan surroundings of the Western Ghats in central Kerala, Mathew Cherian, the CEO of HelpAge India, started his career as consultant engineer in an oil drilling company in Mumbai and then stepped into the noble terrain of social work. Initially, he spent his free time working with a group that helped poor street children in Mumbai. Cherian has a civil engineering degree from BITS Pilani in 1980 and a diploma in rural management from the Institute of Rural Management in Anand, Gujarat.

His journey as a social worker began when he stayed with Baba Amte and worked in rural areas. He was soon approached by Oxfam, a UK charity fighting global poverty, to take charge as its director of central India. Mathew worked in tribal areas and became the international director of Oxfam. It was then that the president of HelpAge India wanted Mathew to head the non-profit organisation for the aged. He joined as the CEO of the organisation in 2004.

It was at Oxfam that he met Amita Joseph, who was programme manager for East India in the same organisation. Amita, who is also a Supreme Court lawyer, has since been a great support, says Cherian. They have two teenage daughters. Cherian also serves on the boards of HelpAge International and Guide Star international. His inspiration is the selfless work done by people like Mother Teresa. Cherian is also associated with the NGO task force of the Government of India

When asked What is the secret of your success? "I have good listening skills and am blessed with the ability to connect with people. I am able to understand sadness and joy. My deep sense of gratitude has helped me immensely and I am thankful to my parents, teachers and well-wishers who have instilled all the good values in me" he said.

According to a report by HelpAge India, India is home to over 80 million elderly. The figure is expected to increase to 177 million by 2025. Around 89 per cent of the people over the age of 60 are not covered under any post-retirement economic security schemes, according to "old age social and income security", a project commissioned by the Indian government in 2000.

"We are demanding the implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2007, which makes it obligatory for children and heirs to provide maintenance to senior citizens. We are also asking for the set up of a technological assistance law for the elders. They should treated as par with others which would definitely help them in addressing the financial and emotional security in the country." says Mathew Cherian.