NSE and Dignity Foundation are working hard to create a difference in the lives of the underprivileged seniors in Kannagi Nagar and Saidapet. Our project coordinator Manoharan visits the project site regularly to establish a relationship with the people in the community and to know what their requirements are. First we addressed the issue of health and hygiene in the community and spoke to them on health issues and how simple diet and home remedies can ward off serious ailments. To popular request that health camps be conducted, we organized a free eye camp for seniors with Udhi Eye Clinic. Seniors needing cataract surgery were identified and free operation was done. They were picked up from their homes, taken to the hospital ,operated ,taken care of for a day and then dropped back in their homes.Post operative assessments were also done and a few are going back to have their second eye operated. We also distributed free spectacles to seniors who were prescribed by the optometrists. The residents are thrilled that we are trying to keep up our promise and that we are really making a difference in their lives.
We have also collected a database of the senior residents in each community who attend our camp so that it gives us an idea of the demography of the population we are serving, their expectations, familial support, Government aids that they do or do not receive, average income, other sources of help, ailments etc. This study has brought us closer as many during the interview came up with their problems and how we could structure our empowerment programme.This also helped us to identify needy seniors who could no longer work and did not have anybody to support them and to whom we distributed FREE RATION. The beneficiaries were very happy and have embraced us as part of their community.
We realised that Financial Inclusion is very important for seniors and to stress on the need , we identified the bank closest to the community. In Kannagi Nagar, we worked with SBI who was the closest branch and Indian Bank in Saidapet. Bank Managers explained the latest scheme by the Government where they can open a ‘No minimum balance account’, the ease of opening it, the overdraft facilities that they offered and the low interest rates and time in which they had to pay back. This could save many from the clutches of pawn brokers and the huge interest rates that they charge. Participants have been asked to bring their id card next month when together with SBI and Indian Bank we will open bank accounts for them. We also stressed that their old age pension or benefit money such as widowers pension they receive from the Government be directed to bank so that it is safe and also is not taken away from them by force. This will also help them to keep a tab on their savings.
Another aspect of Financial Inclusion other than banking is the security that Insurance gives. Being insured and the feeling that in case of any accident they will have money to take care of their medical expenses gives the seniors lot of security since a big group of seniors still do work for their living.The recent scheme launched by Prime Minister Modi, PMSBY (Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana) will offer a renewable one year accidental death-cum -disability cover of Rs 2 lakh for partial/permanent disability to all savings bank account holders in the age group of 18-70 years for a premium of Rs 12 per annum per subscriber. We have spoken with the Bank Managers in SBI and Indian Bank at Kannagi Nagar and Saidapet respectively that when we open bank accounts for the seniors that we would also get the consent form signed by seniors who would like to take advantage of this scheme. To start them off and to encourage the need to be insured we could pay Rs.12 per individual and register them under this scheme. They will get their documents in a month, will be insured and this will give them a great sense of security. This can be done even with the ‘No minimum balance account’ and we have encouraged them to bring all their id cards necessary to open an account next month.
We also plan to form self help groups among the seniors and do skill development programmes to train them and increase their independance and confidence levels. We will market, help them sell the products they make and the money will be pooled into the community for any emergency. This will give them financial independance and financial empowerment will be a good thing to address after financial inclusion so they can see money going into their accounts.
We are taking small steps but sure ones backed with lot of goodwill, good intentions and Godspeed we hope to make a huge difference. We would like to thank NSE for supporting us in this great venture and for empowering us to make a difference.
By. Gayathri Ananthakrishnan
Senior Manager & Chapter Head ( Dignity Foundation )
