Sri Lanka's constitution, as a Socialist state, is known for its emotional and physical support for its extended members. However, it often fails to respond to the needs of older people aged 60 years and above in difficult circumstances, particularly in metropolitan cities. This is due to various reasons, including economic instability, the breakdown of the joint family system, social bias against vulnerable older people, and the attitude and value attached to them.
Vulnerable older people have been abused by their natural children, in-laws within their own parents, and even tortured physically and mentally. Many young generations wish for their early death, as living under the same shelter gives an economy burden. Society sometimes drives these elderly individuals out of the system, leading them to live subhuman existence or become servants or slaves for their own survival.
Aging is a natural process, but it is difficult to accept and face the realities of fading mental and physical energies. With sickness and disabilities, it is essential to provide care and support both physically and emotionally for these individuals. A residential program for the aged is proposed to help provide this care.
So far, intervention to this vulnerable section group has only covered a fringe of the problems, and limited intervention has been made by few organizations. As responsible citizens, the project aims to intervene immediately through a flexible and innovative approach for the aged people in distress in diverse situations under different conditions.
The Mission Statement of Support the Elderly Persons (STEP) is to promote the dignity and worth of the elderly Persons through empowering them to optimize their potentials, access all available services and opportunities and be able to address their day to day challenges of reduced Income, food and health.
Support the Elderly Persons (STEP) in Badulla District, Sri Lanka, aims to provide clothing, mosquito nets, mattresses, beddings, basins, and medication-received food to around 200 elders. The project has reached 1000 homes and distributed items like clothes, mosquito nets, blankets, mattresses, and other food items from various church members. STEP has experience in managing funds from other agencies and foundations, and has worked with various street children and charitable organizations, particularly Compassion International, for over 23 years. The organization's overall budget and past experiences demonstrate its commitment to providing essential support to the elderly.
From 2020 to 2022, Sri Lanka experienced a severe economic crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to significant social problems and job losses. Inflation rates reached 80%-90%, causing widespread unemployment and a lack of basic needs fulfillment. Despite some economic progress through policies, the need for international aid and support is increasing.
A population and housing census conducted in 2011 revealed that there are 5,000,000 families in Sri Lanka, with some living in legally titleable houses and others in government accommodations. Many cannot claim a house due to their poor economic situation, preventing them from claiming their own.
To address this issue, an organization has planned a project to provide solutions to another economic and social problem identified in Sri Lanka. The population and housing census revealed that some families live in legally titleable houses, while others live in government accommodations without legal title. This highlights the need for international aid and support in addressing the economic and social challenges faced by Sri Lanka.
The project is planned to be implemented in three Central Province districts, Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and Monaragala, Uva Province, in the second phase. The goal is to address homelessness by implementing the project throughout the entire island in the next stages. The project aims to provide relief to the affected communities.
Identifying suitable home buyers is crucial for project implementation. To identify a housing beneficiary, the person must be entitled to a legal deed and be a low-income earner unable to build a house. The housing applicant must complete an application form, submit a certified copy of the land title, and a village officer certificate (Grama Niladari) to confirm their low income status.