Ramwati and her husband, natives of Uttar Pradesh, migrated to Delhi many years ago. Living in the Ambedkar Basti slum, they raised three sons with much difficulty, from her husband working as a sweeper. Her husband passed away eleven years ago, leaving her to take the familial responsibility. Ramwati lives with her youngest son, a sweeper, who is also an alcoholic. The weight of a lost job during the lockdown pushed them to the edge of starving until Asha’s hand offered groceries and medicine. Amidst her health battles and old age struggles, she is also burdened with the responsibility of her grandchildren since her daughter-in-law also passed away a few years ago.
Ramwati, now 63, is part of Asha’s Geriatric Care programme receiving medical and nutritional care. She finds the daily visits to the Asha Centre for lunch with her fellow mates an occasion to cheer herself and gain more strength to face life’s challenges in old age. The Asha team and the young student ambassadors stand as support pillars, fostering an environment where their voices are heard and needs addressed. As per the report by the Technical Group on Population Projection 2021, the elderly population in India is more than 138 million. The share of the Elderly population above 60 years is projected to increase from 8% in 2015 to 19% in 2050. In this context, Asha’s geriatric interventions are beacons of hope, a reminder that every chapter of life deserves respect, dignity, care, and the warmth of human connection.
