New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) and HelpAge India, a non-profit organisation, are joining hands to focus on the lives of senior citizens, who have been the worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, as they are the most vulnerable, especially those above 80. As India fights the coronavirus outbreak and stays locked down for close to two months now, the elderly are struggling to simply survive. Join the campaign and help us raise funds to protect the people who have protected us all our lives.
Here are the Highlights of the #SaveOurSeniors Telethon:
World
67,69,38,430Cases
62,55,71,965Active
4,44,81,893Recovered
68,84,572Deaths
Coronavirus has spread to 200 countries. The total confirmed cases worldwide are 67,69,38,430 and 68,84,572 have died; 62,55,71,965 are active cases and 4,44,81,893 have recovered as on January 9, 2024 at 10:54 am.
India
4,50,19,214 475Cases
3,919 -83Active
4,44,81,893 552Recovered
5,33,402 6Deaths
In India, there are 4,50,19,214 confirmed cases including 5,33,402 deaths. The number of active cases is 3,919 and 4,44,81,893 have recovered as on January 9, 2024 at 8:00 am.
State & District Details
Social distancing doesn't mean socially disconnecting, especially from senior citizens who need all the support during this difficult time of a global pandemic, the #SaveOurSeniors Telethon concluded with this overarching message 
Vishal Nijhawan, Mr Puri's student who sent him a birthday cake during lockdown on #SaveOurSeniors telethon:
It was April 26 when I posted tweet to Panchkula police. I just wanted to make Karan uncle happy on his birthday. I am glad police responded and helped me. The birthday was on April 28, I was doubtful if it will work. To my surprise the police helped make his birthday a memorable one.
Watch: Karan Puri's reaction when one of his students sent him a birthday cake during lockdown with the help of the police. Mr Puri is a 70 year old senior citizen who lives alone in Panchkula
Connectivity Is Vital For Senior Citizens: Rohit Prasad Of HelpAge India
It is important to encourage the society to make efforts towards helping each other especially when it comes to the issue of starvation.
Watch Parikrama perform the song they composed for the #SaveOurSeniors telethon
Natasha Kaur Sekhon, Counselling Psychologist, Grey Shades on the telethon:
Amit Agarwal, Global Senior Vice President & Country Head, Amazon India
These are unprecedented times, even more for the seniors. It is unfortunate that seniors are vulnerable. We are aware costumers rely upon us for their basic needs. Even though it is restricted, it goes a long way. We continue to urge the government to help us do more. Everyone wants to do their bit and we need to take care of our elders.
At this point, our number one priority is to keep everyone safe. I keep talking to my parents and they remind me to be grateful. Elderly continue to be the support system for our society. Seniors are in a desperate need. We are part of various projects like PM-CARES fund. We are providing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and hygiene kits to COVID warriors. We announced Rs 50 lakh support to HelpAge.
Venkatesh Srinivasan, India Assistant Representative, UNFPA
Subir Malik, and Nitin Malik from Parikrama
We are going through a bad time. Most affected are elderly of the country and the world. Wanted to remind you to pick up the phone and talk to them. People put up screenshots of friends virtual parties on social media but not of their elders.
Watch: Kriti Kharbanda on #SaveOurSeniors telethon
Rajeshwar Devarakonda, Head of Emergencies, HelpAge India
Radhika Bharat Ram, Joint Vice Chairperson, The Shri Ram Schools:
In our school - silver surfer is a program started by students for teaching grandparents how to use computers. We will take this forward and online especially during summer vacations. Children also get assignments related to their grandparents to teach them to value their elders.
My Father-in-law is 80, he plays sitar for two and a half hours daily. He still participates in family business. He's on board for NGOs. There's a lot to learn when you live with grandparents. This generation is last and lost is what was said earlier on the programme, but I think it needs to become first and found.
Kiran Karnik, Chairman, HelpAge India & Former President, NASSCOM Foundation:We are trying to take up the issue, make them aware of their rights. Elder abuse is a big issue. Social distance is a wrong term, it should be physical distance. In many households, elders are subject to abuse.
There is talk, little action. Pensions cover a third of the elderly and is a very small amount. We need to look at what government can do. We need to see what community can do. When it comes to support, it is also about emotional support, bonding with them, making them feel cared and wanted.
Kriti Kharbanda, Actress:
My grandparents are no more, but I was very close to them. We always lived like a joint family. We are basically appealing to people to live like human beings. We are telling people what other people need, which is quite sad. Older generation is suffering the most. A lot of people take families for granted. The attitude where we think if our parents have taken care of us, they can take care of themselves is wrong.
I owe my existence, just like every other human being, to my parents. We need to ensure they feel protected, and that they are taken care of. I wish I was with my parents. I think they need it more than I do.
Sushant Dash, President, Beverages - India and Middle East, Tata Consumer Products:
Dr A B Dey, Head, Department of Geriatric Medicine, AIIMS:
Before COVID also elders and seniors had a problem, now it will increase. Let's say, 10 per cent in our country are 60+ and 2% are 80+. As we compare with Europe, fatality is less. We don't have a good long term health facilities. Data says only 30,000 people live in old age home, I think this number is 60,000-70,000.
Older people were more vulnerable even before. People who were frail, didn't fare well to the disease. A lot of people with underlying disease like cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, were severely affected. Our COVID experience is not very great.
Ravi Babu, Actor, Director & Producer:
I've heard first elders take care of children and then children take care of elders. This thought exists in our country but I've also heard of elder abuse cases in our country. One of my friend on WhatsApp group, shared incident where in a high-rise where he lives, an 80-year old woman was sick. He asked other people to help him but they all refused. He managed to trace her relatives. No doctors wanted to come home to check her. One doctor came and said that she needs to go to the hospital. No hospital would take her, finally she managed to get to a hospital. Everyone would give him looks because he was in contact with her. In this time, we should get socially closer and maintain a physical distance.
Prannoy Roy announces that HSBC has pledged Rs 30 lakhs for the #SaveOurSeniors initiative
Amey Gupta, 16 year old student, collected funds for the elders
When I found out elders are most vulnerable to COVID, I immidetely thought of both my grandmother. I found organisation that help elders. I stumbled upon HelpAge India. Elderly are at a higher risk and still ignored. Hospitals are providing ventilators to young. We need to help elderly to get through this.
Please donate. Arun Nanda, Board Member, HelpAge India, and Chairman, Mahindra Holidays:
I have a feeling of gratitude. I hope this makes Indians better givers and we understand the needs of other people. There is a physical need and there is an emotional need. People need food, health. People want social distance but not social disconnect. I hope this program encourages young people to talk to seniors.
In my experience, seniors are looking for second innings. They want to do what they couldn't do when they have responsibilities and for that we need to provide them with opportunities.
Thank You Donors: After over an hour, over Rs 55 lakhs raised so far
Actor, Kartik Aaryan on #SaveOurSeniors Telethon:
Sivamani, Percussionist joins the telethon with his wife:We need to support elders, senior citizens. It is our prime aim. This is a difficult time. All the elderly have taken care of us all our lives, so it is our time to give back. Please give all your support and funds to support elderly.
I'm raised to love my elders, I don't need to make an effort to support them. I don't need a second thought to do it, it's an organic reaction in my DNA: Karan Johar
HelpAge team has seen distress calls from elders increase during the Coronavirus lockdown
HelpAge India team on how we can help our seniors
HelpAge India team highlights the issues that seniors are facing during the lockdown
Surendra Rosha, Group General Manager and CEO, HSBC India:
We have worked with HelpAge and it has been a huge learning experience. Crisis like this requires response from each of us. Elderly is bearing the brunt from health and economic perspectives. I hope individuals and corporates come together to help them out.
Actor and Producer Khushbu on the telethon
Pramod Bhasin, Board Member, HelpAge India & Vice President, Genpact on the Telethon
Issues for the elderly in India is massive. Simple things like being considered economical burden, not being aware of their benefits, simple diseases, cause issues for them. HelpAge does wonderful work. We are trying to see how we can reach 15-20 million elderly people specially in rural areas and help them. The larger number of elderly are women, what do they do when they need medicines. We are reaching out to them for help. Elderly are easily most vulnerable. I pledge Rs 5 lakh to help.
My wife is the first guru for them: Ustad Amjad Ali on the telethonThe world is trying to create vaccine for COVID, but I think we need a vaccine to destroy selfishness and arrogance. Today, man has become ferocious and selfish animals. I appeal to youngsters to take care of senior citizens and parents.
Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash on the telethon
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Sarod player on #SaveOurSeniors Telethon
I think India is the only country where we still believe in blessings and offer respect to seniors, touch their feet. Classical musicians believe in Guru-shishya tradition. Back in the day everyone was rushing to Bombay to settle down. My father was worried I might go to Bombay too, but we need to surrender to our guru, my father. I didn't want to go anywhere I wanted to be with him. He was 95 when he passed away. My family has great regard for elders. I'm teaching my grand kids music. World is disturbed about Coronavirus, but everyone at home is utilising our time and spending more time. researching and discovering more compositions.
My love and gratitude to all the grandparents and parents: Sonakshi Sinha on #SaveOurSeniors telethonBack in the day, we would get yelled at for not doing anything, but today we are praised for staying indoor. Stay indoor so we don't get the virus.
#SaveOurSeniors Telethon starts of with this soulful composition
Sharmila Tagore on how she is taking care of herself during the Coronavirus lockdown
Sharmila Tagore on the telethon:- I am glad in a way that we have started this conversation. We say that seniors are last in the line during the pandemic, but this has been a reality for quite few years that they are last. In Indian society we have put elders on centre stage, but lately the focus is more on youth. Possible reason is that seniors are not perceived as productive force and therefore are a low priority.
- The number of senior in India I think is 11 million and is expected to triple in next 30 years. And we are still not paying adequate attention to this. I am glad we have started this conversation and I hope we will sustain this conversation.
Sharmila Tagore, Former Actress & UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador joins the #SaveOurSeniors Telethon
During a disaster elders are both last and lost when it comes to availing relief: Mathew Cherian
- In every disaster situation, elderly can't run after relief trucks or stand in queues. So they are last and lost.
- During COVID-19, in Greater Noida villages, elderly haven't received ration or pensions. They are hungry so we decided to help them so that their medicines and ration is taken care of. Lockdown extension hasn't helped them they feel disconnected, isolated and lonely. They need help and we need to prevent them from hunger. We need to save our seniors.
Mathew Cherian, Chief Executive Officer, HelpAge India joins the telethon
Telethon gets underway
Countdown starts for the #SaveOurSeniors telethon in the Production Control Room
Here is why India needs to come together to protect the aged
A special telethon dedicated to our senior citizen starts in less than 10 minutes
2-Hour Special #SaveOurSeniors Telethon aims to raise funds to reach out to seniors, in urban and rural areas, with food, medicines, information, counselling and anything else they may need during the Coronavirus lockdown
#SaveOurSeniors Telethon: Key objective of the campaign
Join the campaign and help us raise funds to protect the people who have protected us all our lives
New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) and HelpAge India, a non-profit organisation, are joining hands to focus on the lives of senior citizens, who have been the worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, as they are the most vulnerable, especially those above 80.
Know more about how you can make a difference.
Elderly citizens are at high risk of contracting coronavirus and, in some cases, are also fighting isolation poverty and neglect
Currently, there is an estimated 106 million elderly in India