Sumani  Dash is a seasoned public policy and non-profit professional with a proven track record in management, international public policy, strategic partnerships development and communications with specific focus on India. Sumani has over 15 years of experience with businesses and non-profit organizations in India and the United States. She has previously worked with the Confederation of Indian Industry's North America office, including as the head of operations. 

Sumani's education background includes a Masters Degree in International Studies from the Joseph Korbel School of International Studies (University of Denver), Post Graduate diploma in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Delhi and Bachelors Degree in Journalism from Lady Shriram College, University of Delhi. She is now the Managing Director of American Friends of HelpAge India.

Can you tell us a little about yourself? Your background and what made you take on this role?

I was born and raised in New Delhi, India. I have been in the United States for over 15 years and have spent the bulk of my career with a chamber of commerce focused on US-India relations here in Washington DC. The pivot to American Friends of HelpAge India harkens back to my graduate degree in international development, and also allows me to bring my management and partnership building experience into play for a complete start up effort. At the heart of it though, I am passionate about the cause of elders in India who are an almost invisible and neglected sub-sect of the population, and that truly is the reason why I'm here.    

How old is the organization and what prompted you to start it in the US? 

American Friends of HelpAge India (AFHI) was registered as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization in 2019 - our primary purpose is to work for the cause of disadvantaged elders and our primary partner in this endeavor is HelpAge India.

There are 138 million elders in India - 90% of whom are outside the formal/organized sector and a majority have to work just in order to survive. The challenge is huge and only growing. This is an issue that requires greater engagement from all quarters, and one that we think would resonate with diaspora members. 

 AFHI seeks to raise awareness about the issues facing elders in India, the programs being run by HelpAge India and to raise funds in support of these programs. We have been seeing an uptick in interest  from members of the Indian diaspora as well as well wishers of India for HelpAge's many interventions and felt that more focused attention needed to be devoted to this geography - hence leading to our presence in the US. 

Our Board here includes Mr Pramod Bhasin, the Founder of Genpact, Mr Mukesh Aghi, President of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and Dr Anu Luther Maitra, an academic and former corporate leader. 

HelpAge India is a secular, not-for-profit organization in India operating since 1978 to ensure that the elderly can live active, healthy and dignified lives. It recently became the first and only Indian organization to be honored with the ‘UN Population Award 2020’ for its exemplary work in the field of ageing, relief efforts work during the Covid 19 pandemic and recognition of the organization’s outstanding contribution to population issues and efforts in the realization of older persons rights' in India.

HelpAge India operates in 26 states, in 175 districts and its programs touch about 1.5 million elders, though with 138 million elders in India, the need is enormous.

What are the various initiatives of HelpAge?

HelpAge India focuses on direct interventions in the areas of Healthcare (mobile healthcare units, cataract surgeries), Agecare (helplines, senior citizen care homes and day care centres, physiotherapy), Sustainable Livelihoods (elder-self-help groups; linkages with government schemes), Disaster Response (e.g. covid19 relief response, flood relief etc), as well as Advocacy and Awareness on rights and policies relating to elders.

Are you affiliated with HelpAge globally?

HelpAge India is a Founding member of HelpAge International (51 member countries representing elder cause at UN). Our work and programming in India is however completely separate and independent from any other organization. 

How can readers help and support the org?

We are building up our organization here in the United States. I believe our work focuses on a very unique and neglected section of the population which might find resonance with the many people who may have left behind elderly family members in India or who have extended family and friends networks back in India. I would encourage Lokvani's readers to check out our work at www.af-hi.org and and connect with us via Social media channels. We would love to hear any ideas, thoughts, comments especially in this beginning start up phase and would of course very much appreciate financial contributions which will be deployed towards our programs in India. 

Are you running any campaigns currently? Share some future plans of HelpAge India

We have had several awareness building and fundraising campaigns ongoing this holiday season which would benefit our various programs on the ground in India. Our healthcare access program through the Mobile Health Units program, Support-a-Gran initiative for destitute elders, and age care programs through model senior care centers are especially ones that we are trying to highlight and fundraise for.  

Thank you for your time!

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