Veteran Industrialist and staunch philanthropist, Ratan Tata passed away late Wednesday (October 9, 2024) at a Mumbai hospital. The chairman emeritus of Tata Sons died aged 86 and had been undergoing intensive care for the past few days.
The passing of Ratan Tata marks the end of a profound chapter in India’s industrial and philanthropic history. Though Tata received much recognition for his extraordinary business leadership, his lesser-known legacy in elder care is equally as impactful. As part of his extensive philanthropic work, he worked to solve some of the most pressing challenges faced by India’s senior population by creating a model for how corporate wealth can be used to uplift vulnerable sections of society.
Tata’s philanthropy was shaped by a core belief: the well-being of a nation is measured not just by its economic prosperity but by the dignity and care afforded to its most vulnerable citizens, particularly the elderly. India’s demographic trends - an ageing population, with increasing numbers of the senior population living in isolation due to urban migration - have highlighted a growing crisis in elder care. Understanding this, Tata took decisive steps to build programs that addressed both the healthcare needs of the elderly and the broader social challenges they face.
Lifelong Commitment To Healthcare
At the heart of Tata’s elder care initiatives was his commitment to healthcare, particularly through the Tata Trusts, one of India’s oldest and most influential charitable organisations. Ratan Tata was the chairman of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Allied Trusts, and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Allied Trusts.
The Trusts have consistently supported healthcare infrastructure that caters to the elderly, focussing on both direct care and institutional support. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tata Trust alongside the NSE foundation set up the ELDERLINE project across various states to help seniors in need.
Hospitals like the Tata Memorial Hospital and other healthcare initiatives funded by Tata Trusts have long been at the forefront of cancer research and treatment, with dedicated geriatric units providing crucial care for older patients.
However, Tata’s vision for eldercare extended way beyond healthcare and towards their ‘well-being’. He knew that ageing is not just a medical issue but also a social one.
Beyond Healthcare: Towards Elderly Support
Tata worked to build networks of support for older individuals who often found themselves isolated amid India’s rapidly changing society. His investment in Goodfellows, a startup offering companionship services for senior citizens, exemplifies his focus on addressing loneliness and isolation, which are significant issues among the elderly population.
Goodfellows, founded by Tata’s close associate Shantanu Naidu, connects senior citizens with empathetic, trained young professionals who provide companionship, helping alleviate the loneliness many elders face. Tata himself understood this need deeply, stating, “You don’t know what it is like to be lonely until you spend time alone wishing for companionship.” As someone who experienced ageing without a spouse or children, he was acutely aware of the emotional challenges many elderly people face, making this investment a personal one.
Support To Geriatric Care
Tata Trusts is known for extensively supporting and building the geriatric care infrastructure in India. Resembling closely to Ratan Tata’s vision, the Trust has created many geriatric units in hospitals and supports research aimed at improving the quality of life for older adults.
Initiated in October 2017, the Trusts’ elder-care initiatives were aimed at serving the relevant needs of the elderly in India, 71% of whom live in rural areas. The goal of facilities established by the Trust centered around improving their quality of life through caregiving, decreasing their dependency, and generating social and economic opportunities.
Notably, various such facilities function in multiple Southern States, some of which were shifted to online mode during the COVID-19-induced lockdowns. During the nationwide lockdown, the Trusts’ Elder Spring Rural Programme worked to ensure the rural elderly got help with basic necessities such as groceries, medicines and treatments, and even emotional support.
Ratan Tata’s demise is a significant loss for the nation but his legacy lives on. The areas of elder care he has touched with his philanthropic work ensure that seniors have a medium to live with dignity and, importantly, out of isolation with care.
