As part of its multidimensional approach to alleviate poverty and to ensure a dignified life for elderly people, PKSF is implementing the Uplifting the Quality of the lives of the Elderly People Program in 212 Unions across the country. Launched in 2016, the program is being implemented by 101 Partner Organizations (POs) of PKSF. Elderly persons that fall outside the purview of the government’s old-age allowance scheme are provided with a range of services, including monthly allowances, healthcare facilities, and assistive devices. In FY 2022-23, BDT 10.81 crore was disbursed among the elderly members as income generating loans. Besides, BDT 47.36 crore was disbursed as old-age allowances among 77,686 elderly members.
The following activities are being implemented under the programme.
- Establishing social centres for the elderly people in every Union,
- Providing old age allowances and assistive materials (walking sticks, commodes, blankets warm cloths, wheel chairs, umbrellas etc);
- Provision of Special Savings and Pension Fund;
- Recognising the contribution for the society made by the elderly persons’
- Awarding children for looking after their parents,
- Providing appropriate credit and IGAs-based training facilities to the poor elderly people,
- Offering physiotherapy services & geriatric nursing to the elderly by organizing training for the Physiotherapy Aide.
- Rehabilitation of poor and distress elderly in community.
Funding of the programme is being mobilized from ‘Special Fund’ and ‘Programmes-Support Fund’ of PKSF with 10 percent surplus of credit programmes of Partner Organisations. PKSF bears 50 % while POs bear the rest operational expenditure. A budget of BDT 9.54 crore has been approved to run the programme for FY 2017-18. Under the programme, the following activities are being implemented in the working areas: Establishing social centres for the elderly people in every Union, Providing old age allowance, Providing assistive materials ( walking sticks, high commode, blanket etc), Offering Special savings and pension fund, Recognising elderly persons’ contribution to society, Bestowing awards to the best children for serving their parents, Providing appropriate credit and training facilities to the poor elderly people, Training up physiotherapist to provide geriatric nursing and Creating special social facilities for the elderly people.
Uplifting the Quality of Lives of the Elderly people Programme is being implemented in 234 Unions in 64 districts through 116 partner organisations across the country.
COMMITTEE FORMATION, TRAINING AND MONTHLY MEETING
As part of the plan of action a survey has been conducted in selective areas to find out the socio-economic status of the targeted elderly people. Multi-tier committees have been formed at villages, ward and Union levels for operating the programme. So far 2800 elderly committees–100 Union committees, 1800 village committees and 900 ward committees have been formed till June 2018. The elderly people have been provided leadership and communication skill development training to increase their negotiation skills. Elderly programme is entirely managed by local elderly people.
ELDERLY SOCIAL CENTRE
Under this programme, provision of establishing Elderly Social Centre in each Union has been kept to create a common platform for the elderly people. This multi-purpose Social Centre is being used to meet up the recreational as well as social needs of the elderly people. Land of the social centre is being arranged through donation from local people. There are different types of recreational arrangement for the elderly people: indoor games, television, newspapers, Carom, Luddu etc. Elderly people use to come and discuss various issues at the centre. This centre is being used as a platform of unity of the elderly people. The construction of ‘Social Centres for the Elderly People’ has already been completed in 47 Unions.
OLD AGE ALLOWANCE
To cover the basic needs of the elder people, provision of Old Age Allowance has been made for the underprivileged elderly people. With this allowance many elderly people are being able to buy necessary medicines and avail treatment of their old aged complications. PKSF has provided TK 3. 85 crore (monthly BDT 600/- per person) as Old Age allowance to 8000 elderly people up to June 2018.
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
This programme offers different assistive materials to ease the lives of the elderly people. 116 partner organisations distributed 1798 umbrellas, 1806 walking sticks, 1876 raised commodes, 5350 blankets and 3903 warm cloths to elderly people.
ASSISTANCE TO COVER FUNERAL EXPENDITURE
In the same manner, PKSF are making every effort to meet the needs of the people from birth to death. In some circumstances it is found that people are even unable to bear the expenses of funeral of deceased. PKSF ensure proper funeral of every deceased elderly people. As of June, 2018 TK 23.56 lac (BDT 2,000/- per person) has been provided to bear the funeral expenditure of 1178 deceased.
AWARDING ELDERLY PEOPLE
Recognizing the contribution of the elderly people towards the society is a key component of the Elderly programme. It also bestows award to the sons and youth for their support to the elderly people. 809 elderly person and 368 young people have been awarded for their noble work so far.
IGA TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
This programme also ensures the accessibility of senior citizens to employment, income generating activities, micro-credit, markets and assets. Till June 2018, a total of 1,210 elderly people were provided training on different IGAs.
HEALTH AND CARE FACILITIES
The programme has provision of health and care facilities for the elderly people. PKSF has provided training to one male and one female on physiotherapy and posted them at Elderly Social Centre for delivering services to the ailing elderly people. A total of 17098 elderly people received primary healthcare till June 2018.
SUPPORTS FOR HELPLESS & SHELTERLESS ELDER
Under this programme, there is a provision rehabilitate vulnerable elderly to a family in his/her locality. Arrangements have been made to provide support to helpless elderly people. Till June 2018 41, helpless elderly people has been rehabilitated to a new family of his/her own locality.
MONITORING OF THE PROGRAMME
As part of on-site monitoring, senior officials of PKSF regularly visit the working areas of the Programme for the Elderly People. Besides the qualities of activities is also ensured by off-site monitiring through periodic reports and analysis. This programme has some positive impact on society. With the Old Age Allowance, many elderly people try to improve their lives. Many elderly people left begging and have started small trading. The elderly committee are creating awareness against child marriage, drugs etc.
DIVISIONAL WORKSHOP FOR SENIOR POs OFFICIAL
A worksop was held on April 27, 2018 for the Chief Executives and other senior officials of Partner Organisations. EDs and senior officials (Chief Credit Coordinator and Focal Person) of 12 POs implementing Elderly programme in Chittagong division participated in the workshop. Mr. Md. Abdul Karim, Managing Director, PKSF was present in the workshop as chief guest. Ms. Rabeya Sultana, Country Director, Help Age International and Mr. AHM Abdul Qaiyum, Deputy General Manager, PKSF conducted the workshop.
PKSF MD ATTENDED CONFERENCE IN TANZANIA
Mr. Md. Abdul Karim, Managing Director, PKSF attended a conference titled ‘South – South Learning and Knowledge Exchange on Strengthening Social Accountability in Social Protection’. In the conference he presented a paper on Uplifting the quality of the lives of the elderly people: PKSF experience.
PUBLICATIONS
To implement the field activities, Uplifting the Quality of Lives of the Elderly People Programme has re-printed the update version of a guideline title ‘Programme Implementation Guideline’ for the support of focal person and programme organisers. The Elderly programme also published two newsletters quarterly that will contain the news and events of different cultural and sports programme.
‘Bangladesh Jatiya Prabin Mancha (Bangladesh National Forum for the Elderly)’ Launched
A national platform titled ‘Prabin Mancha Bangladesh (Bangladesh National Forum for the Elderly)’ has been launched under the initiatives of Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF). Mr. Md Abdul Karim, Managing Director of PKSF, has been pro-active to the formation of the Forum.
The platform will take up various programs in light of the National Policy on Older Persons 2013. The platform, comprising different organizations and individuals working for the welfare of the elderly, is expected to play an effective role in building a senior citizen-friendly society as well as in ensuring sustainable socio-economic progress by bettering services to the elderly people.
Social Welfare Minister Mr. Rashed Khan Menon, MP, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and Health and Family Welfare Secretary Mr. Foyez Ahmed was the Special Guest at the launching ceremony. Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad presided over the program held on 14 May 2018 at PKSF Auditorium.
In his speech, Mr. Rashed Khan Menon said the experience and wisdom of the senior citizens can guide the youth towards a better and more prosperous future. Mentioning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved leaving anyone behind, he commented that empowering senior citizens is as important as ensuring their welfare. “I hope this Forum will play a vital role in ensuring inclusive development and social dignity of the elderly.”
Stating that the average life expectancy of the Bangladeshis has reached 72 years, the Health and Family Welfare Secretary said ensuring collective welfare of the elderly is becoming a growing challenge, and this Forum is a “praiseworthy initiative” for addressing that challenge.
Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, the PKSF Chairman, said inclusion of the elderly in the development process is a must for achieving the SDGs. During his speech as the program’s Chair, the eminent economist also announced the Advisory Committee (bn) (eng), the Executive Committee (bn) (eng) and the General Body (bn) (eng) of the newly floated Forum.
PKSF Managing Director Mr. Md Abdul Karim said PKSF is carrying out its Elderly programme in light of the National Policy on Older Persons 2013 and the Parents’ Maintenance Act 2013. He said PKSF is conducting a comprehensive pro-elderly program titled ‘Uplifting the Quality of the Lives of the Elderly People’ that ensures social and financial security, healthcare, empowerment, entertainment of elderly people. The new Forum will hopefully formulate its working strategies in line with the experiences of PKSF, he said.
Mr Abdul Karim, a former Principal Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, stressed on the need for the expansion of health services for the elderly at the grassroots, incorporation of a dedicated chapter in textbooks for creating social responsibility and awareness among people, and introduction of a national pension scheme for all.
A separate ministry or department can be established for expediting the pro-elderly measures of the government, suggested the former top bureaucrat of the State. “Bangladesh National Forum for the Elderly will hopefully act as a model platform for the welfare of older persons”, Mr. Abdul Karim added. Earlier, PKSF Deputy Managing Director-1, Mr. Md Fazlul Kader, who spearheads the implementation of the Foundation’s innovative ‘Uplifting the Quality of the Lives of the Elderly People’ programme, presented on different pro-elderly interventions and achievements of PKSF.
Ms Rabeya Sultana, Country Director of HelpAge International Bangladesh, Mr. Abul Hasib Khan, Director of Resource Integration Centre (RIC), and Ms Monowara Begum, Executive Director of Prottyashi, also spoke at the program. PKSF Board Members, members of PKSF’s elderly interventions and officials of the Partner Organizations concerned, among others, were present at the launching ceremony of the new platform.
The first meeting of Prabin Mancha Bangladesh was held on September 23, 2018 at PKSF bhaban.
