SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of

Management Studies – Hyderabad (Jadcherla)

A Report on We-Care Internship Program at HelpAge India

Submitted by – Vishal Bothra

SAP ID - 80303190020
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

SERIAL NO. TOPICS PAGE NO.

1. PREFACE 3
2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 4
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5
4. OVERVIEW OF THE SECTOR 6
5. ABOUT HELP AGE INDIA 7
6. MY WORK AND CONTRIBUTION 11
7. MY LEARNINGS 13
8. PICTURES 14
PREFACE
The main motivation of undertaking this project was to work for mission-based
organizations with the emphasis to work towards a specific goal that somehow helps
the people or the environment. The Wecare Program which is part of the curriculum
of SVKM’s NMIMS gives an opportunity to students to know about the challenges
faced by the society and how NGO’s are doing their bit to overcome these challenges
and make their life worth living.

I owe my Sincere thanks to everyone who helped me during this time frame. It was a
fun and also a learning experience for me. I hope the knowledge and experience
gained while undertaking the project will help me in my future endeavours in way or
the other.

Vishal Bothra

80303190020

NMIMS – Hyderabad (Jadcherla)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I, Vishal Bothra, take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and deep
regards to my Mentor at HelpAge India - Mrs Poornima for her exemplary guidance,
monitoring and constant encouragement throughout the course of this report. The
guidance and support given by her time to time helped me draw more perspectives on
my research and build a more cohesive report.

I also take this opportunity to express a deep sense of gratitude to our We Care Guide,
Mrs Sasmita Mishra, for her cordial support and valuable time, which helped in
completing this task through various stages.

Lastly, I am obliged to our Director Sir Dr. Prithvi Yadav, who gave us an Opportunity
to serve the society with this brilliant project as a part of our We Care internship.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The area of intervention of the NGO – HelpAge India was at the outskirts of Bangalore,
namely Yeshvanthpur, GG pallya, Sadashivajinagara and many more places
concentrating on people who are above 55 years old and belong to the BPL – Below
Poverty Line Category. People living in these areas are in condition of extreme poverty
and consequently they no possibility to afford the costs of the medications for problems
such as Blood Pressure (BP), Sugar and pains in the joint due to age.

The majority of the families have an average size of 6. These people struggle to
survive by doing odd jobs. Therefore, all the family income is basically oriented to first
needs and in most cases, they cannot afford basic medication for themselves. Many
people are not aware of the impact the problems such as BP and Sugar can have on
their body. It is with this motive, HelpAge India had started so that the oldest members
of the family can live a healthy live thereafter.

Over the course of the project I have explained how the team of HelpAge India try to
rescue the old people and provide them with basic necessities. I have also explained
how the Help Line centre tries to hear out the pain and grievances of the old people
and support them so that they don’t face these issues anymore.

Visiting “HelpAge India” and working with them actively helped me know the reality of
the challenges that are being faced by the society and how they are doing their bit to
eradicate the problem and make this world a better place to live.

This project also helped me get a practical knowledge and know about the various
challenges that one faces while governing a NGO organization. Above all this project
has also helped me sharpen my skills and has thus helped me for the betterment of
my knowledge.
OVERVIEW OF THE SECTOR
“He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything” – Arabic
proverb

India has made rapid strides in the health sector since independence. However,
various eye-opening data from NFHS clearly indicate that access to healthcare still
remains a challenge.

While the health statistics of rural India continue to be poor, the health status and
access to health for the poor in urban slum dwellers has surfaced to be equally
deplorable and have less than 4% of government primary healthcare facilities.

Urban slum dwellers suffer from adverse health conditions owing to mainly two
reasons –first the lack of education and thus lack of awareness; and second the
unwillingness to lose a day’s wage in order to reach the nearest medical
facility. Healthcare for underprivileged, which is a desperate need, thus remains
unaddressed.

The need of the hour is thus a two-pronged approach – first to bring

quality healthcare services to doorsteps of the needy and second to
promote healthcare awareness and contemporary healthcare seeking behaviour
among the underprivileged.

In such a scenario a mobile healthcare services delivery system is the most

practical mechanism. And in subscription to this view, HelpAge India has initiated the
stay healthy stay strong programme. This is a unique mobile hospital programme
that seeks to address problems of mobility, accessibility and availability of
primary healthcare with the focus being on underprivileged elderly people above the
age of 55, in urban slums and remote rural areas.

The programme has so far provided free healthcare services to more than 10 lakh
children and families.
About the Organization –
HelpAge India is a leading charity in India working with and for disadvantaged elderly
for nearly 4 decades. It was set up in 1978 and is registered under the Societies’
Registration Act of 1860. There are an estimated 106 million elderly in India. HelpAge
advocates for their needs such as for Universal Pension, quality healthcare, action
against Elder Abuse and many more at a national, state and societal level with Central
and State governments. It advocates for elder friendly policies and their
implementation thereof. It works hand-in-hand with Senior Citizens Associations
understanding elder needs working with and for them. The aim is to serve elder needs
in a holistic manner, enabling them to live active, dignified and healthier lives.

HelpAge’s focus over the years has moved from Welfare to Development. It provides
elderly relief through various agecare interventions such as – it runs one of the largest
mobile healthcare programs through its Mobile Healthcare Units spanning the country
providing free healthcare services to destitute elders, it helps elders earn their
livelihood through the formation of Elder-Self-Help Groups making self-reliant, it
conducts cataract surgeries to restore their sight, looks after their basic needs though
its Support-a-Gran program, runs Elder Helplines across the country, provides relief &
rehabilitation for elders post disasters and provides active-ageing opportunities.

Mission – “To work for the cause and care of disadvantaged older person and to improve their quality of life.”
Our Work includes –

➢ Mobile Healthcare

In a country where more than 90% elders have to work in order to survive, affording
quality medical care is a far dream. People are living longer, the Oldest Old, those 80
plus, are estimated to reach 53 million by 2050. 88% of the Oldest Old (80+) suffer
from chronic ailments such as hypertension, asthma, arthritis, heart problems etc.
HelpAge’s Mobile Healthcare program seeks to provide sustainable healthcare
solutions to destitute elders and their community where these are none available
through its Mobile Healthcare Units (MHUs). Each MHU has a doctor, pharmacist and
a social worker. These MHUs go into the interiors of urban slums and villages, bringing
healthcare virtually at the doorsteps of these destitute elders. For most elders it saves
them from the long lines at hospitals which are also situated far from their communities
and they get free medication on a monthly basis. Their Individual patient card keeps a
record of their treatment and helps monitor their progress.

➢ Physio care

Under this program, elderly persons with musculoskeletal diseases such as back pain,
arthritis and other age-related mobility challenges are treated. The services are
provided through stationary physiotherapy clinics, mobile services, visits to residents
of homes for the aged and home visits made by a qualified physiotherapist. HelpAge
provides more than 1.50 lakh physiotherapy treatments to elders in 20 states.
 ➢ Elder Helplines

HelpAge runs a Toll-free Elder Helpline across 22 state capitals in India offering
assistance to elders in need. The services offered are – rescue of abandoned elders,
counselling of those in distress, health care, legal support, information related to
services available etc. The Helpline links elders to various institutions such as old age
homes, hospitals, police, government and non-governmental organizations.

ELDER HELPLINE: 1800-180-1253

➢ AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Through the years, HelpAge India’s work has been recognised by several
organisations and institutions. We are thankful for their faith and belief in our services
by giving us such an honour. It encourages us and instils a sense of belief that we are
on the right path whilst reminding us of the great responsibility we carry toward the
elderly of our society.

Chairman's Challenge Award

NGO Leadership & Excellence Award 2015Times Social Impact Award
Vayoshreshtha Samman (National Award for Senior Citizens)
Bharat Nirman Institutional Award honouring HelpAge India's work
Leadership & Excellence Award 2014
Recognized by ICAI for Financial Excellence 2011-12
Recognized by ICAI for Financial Excellence 2010-11
Award for Outstanding Contribution to Social Welfare 2011
Best NGO Award
Healthcare Leadership Award 2012
My work and contribution at HelpAge India
As a management student from a reputed institute, they want my team of size 6 to
handle the project and get up with some outcomes to the problem in the sector. Below
were the potential areas selected by us for finding our beneficiaries –

Qurem Nagar
GG Pallya
Yeshvanthpur
Magadi Road
Kalyan Nagar
Banashankari 2 stage and many more

This area had many underprivileged people above the age group of 55 and belonging
to the Below Poverty Line Category. Major issues or problems that they faced are
listed below

Blood Pressure
Sugar
Joint Pains
Cataract

Me and my team used to address these problems with the main aim of making their
lives healthier and happier. Here while we addressed the problem we went through a
series of steps as discussed by the team. Firstly, the patients were recorded in the
OPD register, post which Dr. Harimurthy used to treat these patients. The patients
were given medicines free of cost ranging from 7 days to 15 days. Apart from this
regular check-up for BP was done once a month and for sugar it was done once in 3
months. During our tenure we also conducted various awareness programs at
different potential locations for the elderly people. On a daily basis we treated 120
patients on an averge. My main role at the MHU unit was to record the data of the
patients and report the same on a daily basis to Mrs Gayathri who was responsible
for the MHU unit 3 in Bangalore. The reports being collected were directly sent to the
Head office - Bangalore which they in turn delivered it to the Head office at Delhi.
During my internship, I was also involved in the stock calculation which happens at
the end of the month. Post which the stock is updated on the Help Age India site.
The Ngo also receives stock at the beginning of the month based on the patients it
serves.

I also worked at the Helpline centre and Physiotherapy centre. Apart from the
orientation given by my Mentors, I was also involved in Data entry which is further
submitted to the head office at the end of the month. With respect to the
Physiotherapy centre, I was involved in recording the patient details in a ledger and
the case was similar with respect to the Helpline unit.

Here, my teams played a critical role in understanding the problems of our patients
and drawing out better solutions. In our awareness programs, our team also focused
on the mental pressure that the elderly goes through and how that could be removed.
We also advised the beneficiaries to apply for Health Age Cards and informed them
about the various benefits that the card holds. We also conducted seminars were in
they were made aware about the laws and benefits that the government provides them
with respect to pensions, claims and many other benefits. During the 15 days visit we
made various reports that would help the Ngo in addressing the issues in a better way.

By performing so many activities in the tenure, I tried to bring the change in the society
and tried to do my bit thus creating a smile in the faces of many beneficiaries and tried
to make this world a better place to live.
MY LEARNINGS
HelpAge India gave me all the opportunity to nourish my skills and to acquire new
skills to make me a better person. Through the task and activities performed, we
realised the duties of a responsible citizen and can make the things better in our
society and grow our country better. My learnings from the We Care Internship
specifically from the Help line center are-

I learned that every problem has a solution. Instead running from the problem,
it is better to face it with courage and enthusiasm. Before finding the solution,
it’s useful to find the cause root of the issue and take the step accordingly.
As a human being, I realised the importance to be calm and compose in the
critical situation. No problem is bigger than courage. If person has calm mind
and willingness to overcome, he can do it with ease.
To generate the fair solution, draw the understanding the perspective from both
the parties. We clap from both the hands, so it is equally important to hear the
point of view from both the side and find the mutual solution.
I learned the cross-analysis of the problem in the society. The problem never
lies in the area we seem, in fact it exists in unexpected area. So, it is equivalent
key to keep they eyes open in every perspective.
PICTURES

Completion certificate from HelpAge India