Tapping Retirees Potential

The Multi-dimensional approach to providing Opportunities under

one UmbrellaDIGNITY FOUNDATION

Senior Citizens Life Enrichment Services

Background

The cultural milieuin India

Like no other country in the world

Indian parents face “empty nest syndrome”Middle class younger people have migrated abroad; lower class youngsters gone to larger cities….Family is no longer the social support system that it has been for centuries. Suddenly no one to care for the ageing parent. Not the state; not the children; Society is not ready for this large scale migration; no alternate arrangements in place.New Law of Govt. about ‘perform filial duties or else face punitive action’ -- cannot bring about security for the old; it gives teeth to fight. That is all.

Retirees suffer from very low self esteem

Sense of Uselessness25 yrs after retirement– fend for themselvesWith disastrously depleting incomes –lowering rates of interest; large no. of younger people available in the labour market; with high qlfns., labour market does not recognise the retired workforce

Body is able, strong. But no use. No workFirst time in Indian history: Empty nest syndrome; State has not stepped in, as in developed countries

What is the panacea?

Anything and everything that will provide self esteem, dignity

Keeping oneself occupied till at least 75Taking up new Jobs; cannot continue in old jobs; ”mandatory retirement” is severe. At 58/60 got to retire.Taking up Voluntary work, in case money not a problemGetting involved – not disengagementPursuing one’s passion

In short, PRODUCTIVE AGEING is the panaceaThe Indian Old has not yet arrived into a leisure society where travel, food, relaxation are key.We live at the grassroot, basic, sustenance level

What about the Govt.?What has it done?

A commendable National Policy of the Old --1999BUT Schemes and Programmes lag behind19 out of 25 States have yet to adopt and implement Projects pursuing the National Policy Federal State offers NO Social SecurityMedical and Health Insurance almost non-existent; premiums very highTax sops, paltry concessions are offeredOld Age Pension of $5 p.m given to 5m out of 81mReverse Mortgage is the ONLY substantive scheme just announced in 2007 Budget

Intellectual dilemma about equity in the job market

While suffering of the Old is realLarge numbers of Young are Unemployed.Even if 40 out of 81 million old are still employable, they compete with18 million– the open unemployment figureWhat is social justice? To give jobs to the old or to the younger population?The equity question has not yet surfaced in public. BUT NGOs for the Old are confronted with this interrogation

To provide opportunities for Productive Ageing

An NGO steps in in 1995!We build long term institutional strategyOffering employment, voluntary positionsSocial Support, health back-upsRecreation, Information, civic contributionBUT before all such offers, the OFFER of enlightenment about AGEING, benefits of PRODUCTIVE AGEING – through magazine Dignity Dialogue

Structural opportunities Social support systems Best-of-class servicesPromote Self Esteem

Dignity

The NGO commits to give

Offering the world under one roof

Dignity Dialogue -- 1995Dignity Companionship -- 1996Dignity Second Careers -- 1996Dignity HELPLINE -- 1997 Dignity Computer Skills -- 1997Dignity Civic Service-1998 Security with Dignity --1999HSBC Credit Cards – 1999Govt. ID card --2001

Contd…

Counselling Centre 2001Dignity Enrichment Centre -2003Dance & Movement Project -- 2003Line Walking Patrol for MahanagarGas Ltd ’04Dignity Dementia Care 2004Loneliness Mitigation Project 2004Dignity Lifestyle – Township for 500

But all based on science

Applying the principles of

GeriatryGerontologyApplied Sociology

Applied Social Work

How exactly do we tap into the Potential of the

Older Workforce

Dipping into their infinite store for Compassion

In 1995, Editorial Dept of magazine Dignity Dialogue, India’s first magazine for Productive Ageing, receives phone calls to “come to sit with me and chat”Editor’s clarion call 300 Subscribers sign up to become volunteers!From mere readers they convert to active workers.Dignity Companionship. After 12 years -- not yet a priced service. Indian ethos is not yet ready to pay for emotional support

Dipping into their ability for strategy

Call to Elders to help elders in difficult circumstances -Subscribers sign up – 290 volunteers 50+Rescue from Elder Abuse – newElders get training in crisis intervention, social counselling, peer counsellingElders are trying to set up Alternate Disputes Resolution Court thru the Supreme Court of IndiaDonors are willing to pay for the service, as they are pained to see elders being harassed

Harnessing and boosting their ability to do paid work. We lobby for Jobs in a major way

Dignity Second Careers Division

Took help of Media to establish public presence of the retiree workforceLobbied with employersToday we get about 100 job offers per monthAs Managers, Supervisors, Site Engineers, ConsultantsFoundation earns one month salary as fees from employers

Senior Citizens BPO becomes a reality –Mumbai, Hyderabad

Screamed the headlines on Times of India one morning in February ‘07

For retiree jobs we also jumped into the band wagon of globalisation ….Tied up with a large bank for 200 jobs Term “Call Centre” was refined to “Customer Care Desks”Seniors are flocking to the opportunity$133 per month + Medical Insurance+ conveyanceSeniors give “stability” “dependability” ; they cost less – So now they look attractive to employers Their English is superior to that of youngsters! There is even Grammar!

Tapping into their potential as Peer Advisor/Consultant

Wherever senior citizens need to be wooedAnother senior citizen is the natural motivatorDignity Help Desks were set up in banksThey earn: $100 p.m.Seniors fetched Fixed Deposits-- $100,000A special ceremony felicitated the retirees

In Supervision retirees have excellent skills

TWO bank contracts for retirees to do housekeeping of 66 ATMSRetirees employ manual labourfor cleaning work$55 per month per ATMSimilarly as Managers of Cooperative Housing Society, in charge of looking after high rise apartments.Demand is quite high for retired talent. For 5 hours per day.Wherever statutory obligations are to be met, retirees’meticulousness are valued.

Morning walkers become Patrollers

Mahanagar Gas Ltd has 600km of pipelineAs patrols to guard damages 350 Dignitarians are recruited by the Co. at $22 per month per person17 Chief Dignitarians earn $ 44 p.m.Lower middle class retirees also get intangible benefits by integration with the economic mainstream

Being seen all over the streets and perceived by the younger generation as “Active” old persons gives a huge boost to self esteem

Retirees sitting in corporate offices to attend meetings with company officials is a good “sales” pitch for their talents

Retirement at our Township isRetirement at our Township isabout Adopting villagesabout Adopting villages

Each resident adopts any one of our Projects for villagers

1. Micro credit financing 2. 100% literacy project3. Women self-help groups4. Geriatric health

awareness 5. Spiritual

stimulations

Tapping Seniors interest in Environment

Our biggest breakthrough came with a tie-up with the Municipal Corporation of Bombay.A dynamic Commissioner saw merits in deploying the retiree workforce as volunteers663 Dignitarians are enrolled for “Advanced Locality Management” $20 p.m. p.pEducating residents in keeping locality clean and greenMotivating Street Sweepers into better attendanceCreating “Model Streets”

Environment contd…Volunteers mobilise school children for Campaigns for cleaner roads, compoundsFor Segregation of garbage into Dry & Wet, RecyclableRetirees give vital Feedback into city’s 6000 Garbage Collection PointsIn Anti-plastic campaign they took the lead Every year Mayor’s Awards go to our Dignitarians

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Civic minded Dignitarians become Locality Leaders

Extraordinary potential has been unleashed Senior citizens have become natural leaders in their locality, commanding huge followingPolitical bosses find them as rivals in their elections. Place impediments on their pathHowever conflicts between these two groups brighten up locality dynamics and strengthen people’s powerAGNI – Action for Good Governance by Networking in India -- is a political offshoot of senior citizens entry into local politics.

What do the Old Want?A survey

What they believe in & want in life

Not Name, fame, money/ position.

A sense of self esteem, holding head high,not dependent on children

Dignity

Across the classes needs vary. We Customise

LOWER 75%

NEEDED1)Total care -- Food, Clothes, Shelter --Mother Teresa type (Terminal ill)2) Medical care3) ShelterAVAILABLE (RATIONED PORTIONS)Health camps -- free lenses, dental check-ups, arthritis camps, heart camps, AIDS checkGovt.Old age homes--95% of homes are for this class

MIDDLE20%

•Working & earning opportunity•Alternative Homes•Loneliness mitigation•Rescue from Elder Abuse•Free Counselling --legal, financial, property•Some place for daily interaction •Proof of identity -- ID Cards•Advocacy with Govt --increase interest rates, exempt taxesWE HAVE ONE PROJECT FOR EACH ABOVE

UPPER5%

•Volunteering opportunity -- soul satisfaction, help to find meaning in life•Alternative --Homes•Loneliness mitigation•Rescue from Abuse•Counselling -- Legal, financial, property, Psy.•Place for daily interaction •Increasing advocacy with Govt -- increase interest rates, exempt taxesWE HAVE ONE PROJECT FOR EACH ABOVE

In the labour market we have been able to sell Retirees’potential for:

StrategySagacityPrudenceWisdom

These are the four qualities we have successfully marketed

Thank You