NEW DELHI: An employment programme with a difference, this is a project that hopes to prove life does begin at 60. In a rare attempt at keeping the society's `experienced, patient and trustworthy' busy, the Agewell Foundation has launched an innovative employment scheme "Eklavya".

Developed keeping in mind the needs of the society and the limitations of the elderly, the project has devised work areas that it believes will not just help the old become economically independent but also socially visible. Beginning with home tuitions to freelance accounting, the scheme aims at ensuring the involvement of the elderly in the community while providing them an opportunity for complete development of their potential even after retirement.

Coming as it does with the promise of providing children a secure environment at home, the "Eklavya Home Tutors Project" is aimed at not only providing employment to the old but also to provide an option to working couples. Agewell feels that those with an academic background and looking for social company can avail of the opportunity provided by the project.

Focusing on people with an accounts background will be the `Eklavya -- Easy Accounts' project, which will form a pool of local shopkeepers, traders and professionals who need help with their accounts. The senior citizens, believes Agewell, will not only be trustworthy but also useful in decision making processes.

"The idea is to change the perception about old age and bring about a shift from pity and helplessness to confidence and dignity of older persons. We have undertaken the initiative to provide older people a platform where they can continue to be providers to the society and can pursue their life's passion on their own rather than being dependent on others after retirement," remarked Himanshu Rath, the chairman of Agewell Foundation.

Through the project parents would get tutors and small traders a little help. Agewell believes the initiative will also give old people the chance to interact with the younger generation to bridge the growing gap caused by changing lifestyle.

Registration for the scheme has already begun, with the Foundation now making a list of parents seeking home tuitions for their children and also calling on the elderly to submit their bio-data for gainful engagement. The Foundation can be contacted at the helpline numbers 29836486 and 29840484.

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