COVID-19-Support for Elderly : Kolkata Initiatives

Key Highlights of the Quarter

• 131 sessions were held with the goal of providing elders with well-being support.
• Nutritional assistance was provided to 250 elderly women.
• This initiative covered 70 beneficiaries by organising one health camp.
• 5 elderly women were linked to the old age pension, and 7 applications were being processed.
• Two women were eligible for the widow pension.
• Three elderly women were assisted and guided in opening bank accounts.

Currently, 7 DIDA Centres (a new drop-in centre for elderly women) are open in 7 different communities, including Jodhpur Park, Sahid Smriti, K.P Roy Lane, and Amar Bari. 131 sessions were held during the quarter, and nearly 250 women received nutritional food, medical support, psychosocial support, and well-being support. Recreational activities such as physical activities, sharing sessions, games, and so on are included in the well-being support. The activity aims to reduce feelings of loneliness and depression while also motivating elderly women to live dignified lives.

From October to December 22, one medical camp was held in the AMAR BARI community near Golf Green in Kolkata in collaboration with the prestigious South Asian Medical Students Association (SAMSA). It lasted nearly 6 hours, and 65 people benefited from free medical consultations. The health camp was attended by 12 senior doctors. The health camp includes basic tests for hypertension, glaucoma, pain, blood sugar, thyroid, hypocalcemia, and other conditions, as well as free medicines in some cases. During this quarter, the government assisted elderly women in obtaining entitlements such as widow pensions and old age pensions. The team has contacted government agencies and officials in order to re-register widow pensions and old-age pensions.

During this time, 5 elderly women were linked to the old age pension, and 7 new applications for the same were submitted. Two women were linked to the widow pension, and three elderly women were assisted in opening bank accounts. During this time, 12 elderly women were moved to the ward office and claimed their pension rights under the Government Pension Scheme. In collaboration with Right to Food, 30 elderly women were given dry food during this time period. Six elderly women were given blankets.