About NGO:

In April 1995, a group of like minded individuals got together in Mumbai to establish Senior Citizens Life Enrichment Services to cater to the needs of Senior Citizens in India. Normally changes people encounter in the course of their aging process are negatively perceived as oppose to scientific literature which reveals a liberating aspects of growing old - what prevails is un-acceptance, denial, depression, loneliness, and a certain degree of alienation from the main stream of family life. Dignity was started to serve the needs of seniors.

The rest is history. Our Vision: To create an enlightened society in which the 50+ feel secure, confident and valued; and can live with dignity. Our Mission: We are a non-profit organization that is committed to changing the way people look at ageing in India. We enable our members to lead actives lives through easy access to trusted information, opportunities for productive ageing and social support.

Fund Usage:

Project 1 : Dignity Helpline and Companionship Older persons in India suffer from a variety of socio-psychological problems that are spread across all socio-economic groups. Ageing brings with itself a set of problems and opportunities. However, most of the people are caught unawares of the changes that old age brings forth. Retirement, settlement of children in their respective spheres of life and loss of spouse and peers are some of the obvious changes that an older persons encounters.

Yet, coping with the changes is not an easy task. Increasingly older persons are being abused and victimised their security being threatened and rights flouted. Dignity Foundation has been running an Helpline in Mumbai since 1995. Among the 25-30 calls received at the Dignity Helpline in Mumbai everyday, the nature of the calls may be broadly categorised into:

a) Abuse related
b) Related to social-psychological problems, ageing.
c) Legal, investment, property, rights of older persons and medical related queries.
d) Queries related to old homes and services for older persons.

Dignity Companionship is a good, strong social support system for lonely senior citizens

Impact:

Mrs.Lata was facing a lot of problem from her son. After her husband's demise , her son took her signatures on blank paper. She just can read and write her own mother tongue. Her son also took away the society flat papers where she is residing, transferred all the money left to her by her husband in his account, stopped paying monthly maintenance to her. She approached Dignity Foundation for help. Dignity Foundation met his son for amicable settlement but he refused.

Dignity Foundation helped her in getting legal advice. With the help, she filed a case for maintenance in family court and she won that. Now she is getting monthly maintenance from her son. The other case for the society papers is still on and she seeks help from the legal expert who come to Dignity Foundation whenever required. She is very happy with the support from Dignity Foundation.

Page Url :
http://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/ngo27_dignity.htm

Founded Year: 1997

Cause category: Elderly

Our Supporters

• Vishal Khandelwal