Vikram Kachchawa helping the elderly to live a life of dignity

According to UN report, the share of older persons (aged 60 years or above), in India's population is projected to increase by nearly 20% in 2050. The percentage of senior citizens in India's population has been growing at an increasing rate in recent years and the trend is likely to continue. As per 2011 Census, India's senior citizen population is 8.6 % of the total population and the second largest in the world.

Traditionally, care of the aged was the responsibility of the family, but new changes in societal structure like emergence of nuclear families in India has reduced the capacity of familial institution to serve as a safety net to the elderly members of the family.

Aging is a natural process that brings along a host or medical, economical, psychological and social problems. With increasing disintegration of family as a support system, the present day elderly population is more vulnerable than ever.

Slowly the grim situation of Indian elderly is coming to the forefront and almost every day we come across stories of abuse by family members. After retiring from formal employment, scores of the country’s elderly people are forced to live a life of humiliation and isolation. Many are compelled by their own children to leave their homes rendering them homeless.

In spite of several governmental laws and schemes like ‘Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007’, which makes it a legal obligation for children and heirs to provide maintenance to senior citizens and parents, the problem continues to persist.

In this scenario Vikram Kachchawa, alumnus Sharda Bal Niketan, Nagaur Rajasthan, made it his mission to care for the elderly in our society and help them to live a life of dignity.

Vikram along with his team consisting of six like minded people provides nutritional food to 78 elderly people around Nagaur area, who has been left alone by their respective families. They raise funds of 3000-4000 Rs per person to provide tiffin service to the aged. Most of the time family members and neighbors also pitch in to prepare food for the service.  Apart from food the team provide free treatment, health check ups and other additional help required on a daily basis. Vikram has his own Whatsapp group where people can contact him to inform about elderly persons in need of their help.

Along with helping the elderly, Vikram also donates blankets to the homeless during the winter. In the past 4 years, he has donated approximately 1400 blankets to the needy. He also plans to open an organization ‘Anmol Muskan’ shortly to serve the needy in more constructive and systematic way.

Vikram feels that honoring the elderly should be a part of every Indian’s core moral value and taught to all children, as it has been done in his own school. His message for all Vidya Bharati students is : ‘Help those who are unable to work for themselves’.

Vikram’s unique story is an inspiration on its own and if you are an alumni with similar experience, please email us at info@vidyabharatialumni.org