Dignity Helpline

Dignity Foundation - Pune Chapter

Helpline - (020) 30439190

Dignity Helpline started as a telephonic extension to the Dignity Companionship service. The nature of emergency help for elders in difficult circumstances has changed the functioning of the Helpline. It is today dedicated exclusively for the help and rescue of older persons. Distress calls from elders seeking assistance are handled by a qualified social worker. Everyday Helpline receives 8-10 calls of elders who are being abused, harassed, neglected, or denied their rights. The trouble may be with their children, relatives, neighbours, institutions, etc.

The nature of help rendered:

Volunteers

Volunteers trained in social skills and basic counselling are sent to the senior citizen's residence on a fact-finding mission. Thereafter, appropriate assistance is provided to the aggrieved caller. Dignity volunteers found that in many cases their counselling by itself was not enough. Other types of additional assistance are often required for an effective and speedy redressal of grievances. The following referral network has been put in place to deal with the above problems:

Legal Aid

Lawyer's help to advice Dignity Foundation as well as the victim on matters relating to property, will, nomination, transfer, name change etc.

A group of lawyers are available at regular intervals for consultation to the distressed parent/s.

Assistance has also been provided in successfully bringing to the notice of the High Court the agony suffered by the aggrieved parent/s who have filed cases of harassment, trespass, etc. but had not had a hearing for as long as twenty years.

Legal assistance is also provided in the form of informative articles which find a regular place in the magazine Dignity Dialogue published every month.

Reconciliation Forum

It has been set up with a view to expediting the solution to legal problems and helping the parties avoid expensive and time-consuming litigation. The forum consists of retired members of the higher judiciary, civil and police service and a psychiatrist / psychologist / counsellor and social worker. The forum meets to study selected cases presented by Dignity Foundation after all possible channels of negotiation have been exhausted by the Foundation volunteers & staff. These are usually cases which could have a conclusion and benefit from advice and pressure from an eminent group of persons.

Police Assistance

The Police Commissioner's Office in Mumbai and Chennai have directed all the police stations in Mumbai and Chennai that elder abuse cases brought in by the Dignity Foundation volunteers need to be attended to on top priority. This has already proved very successful. Children / relatives have, in most cases, been effectively prevented from inflicting mental and physical torture on their parents

Police help to warn the errant "child" to treat the parent better. Police authority is also used to provide emergency assistance and rescue from imminent abuse.

The second move by the police in Mumbai has been to request the Foundation to institute Chapter Case proceedings with the help of the Asst. Police Commissioners who have special magisterial powers to bind the errant son/daughter/caretaker to good conduct.

Real Life Cases

Psychological Assistance

A Psychiatrist's / Psychotherapist's/ Counsellor's help is sought for dealing with the psychological problems that are common among the abused parents or in helping the parent cope better with the circumstances. Clinical assessments are made on the basis of which recommendations are given.

Dignity Helpline in 5 Cities