Elderly women who are poor and live alone or with dependent children find them vulnerable, powerless and are neglected by their family or grown up children. Many are too old or physically weak and thus unable to find work. They are forced to beg, and are often homeless. Moved by the plight of destitute single women, Ashaa Foundation has taken up program of sponsoring elderly women on an urgent basis. Our volunteers and staff members conducted surveys and identified 120 destitute women who are above 60 year of age. These elderly women are widows or have been abandoned by their husbands. Some have children, but the children live apart and do not take care of their mothers. They do not have money for food, medical care and other basic necessities.
Ashaa Foundation has been supporting 55 such old women by providing food rations and other necessities every month at their door step They worked hard all their lives, brought up children, and later took care of grandchildren. Now, at the last stage of their life, when they are helpless and lack even food and shelter, they deserve our help.
You can help by sponsoring a destitute elderly woman by giving just ₹2500/month, and enable her to live with dignity. Under our Sponsor an Elder Scheme, the donor will receive regular feedback on how the money was spent and the status and updates on the sponsored senior citizen.
According to a 2016 government report, there were 104 million elders in India, making the country the second largest with population of elders globally. By 2050 the number is expected to reach 326 million.
A 2015 survey by All India Senior Citizens’ Confederation reports that 60 per cent of elderly people living with their families face abuse; 66 per cent are below the poverty line.
Women in India depend on their husbands for proving financial resources and social status. As a result, a large proportion of them face risk of dependence on children, poverty, isolation and neglect after the husband’s death. More than 20% elder women live alone due to death of husband, abandonment or children living in another city.
A shocking fact is that over 55 million elders sleep hungry every night The growing crisis of elders calls for urgent intervention, but the government with its limited resources, can make only meager provisions. There is an urgent need for the private sector and NGOs to help feed destitute elders. AshaaFoundation is one the leading NGOs which has been feeding them. We need your support to extend the reach of our mid day meals project.