|
The Harmony for Silvers Foundation, founded in 2004 by Tina Anil Ambani, is a non-government organisation working to enhance the quality of life of the elderly in India. It envisages India’s elderly as ‘Silver Citizens’—glowing and proud. Harmony’s mission is to create an environment where silvers, irrespective of their cultural beliefs, can retain their dignity, self-respect, pride and self-confidence. Since its inception two years ago, the foundation has accomplished the following:
The Harmony Interactive Centre, operational from May 2004 , provides a unique opportunity for silvers to interact with their peers in a space of their own and experience life anew. It also aims to educate the general public about issues pertaining to the elderly. Since its inception, the centre has become an extension of the lives of members. This is reflected in their relationships with their own families and a general improvement in their overall well-being. The centre offers a broad spectrum of programmes, ranging from yoga, laughter club sessions and comprehensive health check-ups to talks on finance, legal rights and spirituality. Activities include music and dance, festival and birthday celebrations, and picnics. Over the next few years, more such centres will be established to further the vision of Harmony.
Harmony - Celebrate Age, launched in June 2004, is India’s only lifestyle and empowerment publication for silvers. The national voice of the Harmony for Silvers Foundation, it believes that moving on in life should only add more zest to years. Though aimed at readers over 55, it is a great read for the entire family. From test-drives of products and services, technology and health to travel, books, hobbies, legal help, inspiring profiles, puzzles, and national and international news, Harmony has it all. Presented in a stylish, reader-friendly package that guarantees food for thought and value for money.
The paperless medium www.harmonyindia.org is positioned as the future face of Harmony. The portal aims to create networking and awareness about the needs of the elderly, and highlight the resources and opportunities at hand for seniors in India and their NRI friends and counterparts overseas. It reflects the overall image of Harmony as a single window information centre, a virtual platform created to reach out to people from all strata of society globally and an opportunity to voice opinions for a better tomorrow. It is widely viewed both nationally and internationally.
The Harmony Senior Citizens’ Run—as part of the Hutch Delhi Half Marathon and Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon—is another milestone in the foundation’s untiring efforts to bring Indian silvers to centre-stage and showcase their potential. We believe if you can take one step, you can go the distance.
Harmony’s Research Division was set up in June 2005 to conduct scientific studies on ageing; promote the disciple of gerontology and interlink it with field action, teaching and advocacy; and to strengthen policy research to help the government frame policies related to ageing. In its endeavour to reach out to researchers, teachers, policy makers, practitioners and students, the foundation published its first monograph in March 2006. Titled Ageing in India in the 21st Century: A Research Agenda – Priority Areas and Methodological Issues, it is a country-specific report prepared on the lines of the research agenda framed by the United Nations Office on Ageing and the International Association of Gerontology in 2002. The report focuses on emerging issues related to ageing in India in coming decades and suggests alternative methodological approaches to study these issues more comprehensively.
And in October 2006, Harmony launched its second monograph, Promoting Successful Ageing in India: Issues and Challenges. Emphasising the importance of a positive self-image, which leads to positive ageing, the monograph dwells upon the potential of senior citizens that must be recognised, developed and utilised in order for them to live healthy, active and happy lives.
Harmony organised its first seminar, titled “Quality of Life of India’s Silvers: Need for Harmony among Generations”, in March 2006, in Mumbai. The event served as a platform for social scientists, gerontologists, non-government organisations, policy makers and the elderly to deliberate on ageing issues in India and the role of family and intergenerational bonding in enhancing the quality of life of silvers.
Harmony is actively networking with other agencies and organisations in India and abroad for exchange of expertise, ideas and experiences. The first step in this direction was taken in April 2006, when the foundation co-hosted the International Roundtable Workshop on Elder Abuse in Pune, in collaboration with International Longevity Centre, India, International Federation on Ageing, Singapore Action Group for Elderly, HelpAge International, and the Government of India. As a member of International Federation on Ageing—an international non-government organisation with a mission to inform, educate and promote excellence in ageing policy and practice—Harmony attended the 8th Global Conference on ageing at Copenhagen, Denmark, in May 2006. This was followed by the Shanghai International Symposium on Caring for the Elderly and Expert Group Meeting held by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, both in Shanghai, in June-July 2006.
Despite impressive gains in longevity, India still has some of the worst statistics on the global human development index. In 1999, the Government of India brought out the National Policy for Older Persons, aiming to help the elderly live with purpose and dignity with the help of family, community, the state and the private sector. However, the policy is yet to be effectively implemented at ground level. Harmony believes silvers need to be aware of their rights, and the power they wield. We want to translate this latent force into concrete action. Over a period of time, the Harmony for Silvers Foundation intends to promote sound and forward looking strategies and mechanisms to enhance the abilities and participation of silver citizens in the overall development of society.
|