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| A Call for Change: |
| Addressing Adult Guardianship in India |
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| Dear Moneylifers, |
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| Greetings! As people age or face life-altering conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's, or severe disabilities, managing their personal and financial affairs becomes increasingly challenging. In such cases, adult guardianship - a legal process that grants a responsible person the authority to make decisions on their behalf - becomes essential. |
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| Despite its growing relevance, India lacks a comprehensive legal framework for adult guardianship. Seniors and incapacitated individuals often face difficulties to manage their assets and safeguard their rights, particularly when they do not have immediate family members to step in. The absence of clear legal provisions puts vulnerable adults at risk of financial exploitation, neglect and emotional distress. |
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| To address these pressing issues, Moneylife Foundation had recently convened a meeting to discuss the challenges and explore potential solutions. The meeting brought together experts from the legal, medical and consumer advocacy fields, as well as representatives from senior citizens' groups. Some of the notable attendees included Sailesh Mishra, founder of Silver Innings Foundation, Javed Sheikh, chief executive officer (CEO) of Diginity Foundation, Nasreen Rutomfram and Dr C Saigita, professors from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Harsh Roongta, founder of Fee Only Investment Advisers LLP, Dr Ketna Mehta, trustee Nina Foundation, Nishit Kumar, founder of the Center for Social and Behavior Change Communication, among others. |
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| A key outcome of the meeting was a consensus on the urgent need to draft a comprehensive white paper outlining legal and procedural reforms for adult guardianship. Our collective aim to advocate for a robust legal framework that protects the rights and assets of adults with severe disabilities or incapacities, ensuring their welfare and dignity in the long-term. You can read more about the meeting and its outcomes here: Adult Guardianship: Moneylife Foundation, Experts Advocate Legal Reforms in India |
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| This meeting marks a significant step in our broader initiative to address the issue of unclaimed financial assets. We will continue our efforts by engaging with policymakers and stakeholders to drive this important cause and look forward to updating our members on the progress. |
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| If you have any specific suggestions, global experience, or feedback on the subject, please write to us at [email protected] |
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| Celebrating Commodore Lokesh Batra's Contributions to RTI Activism |
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| In September, we hosted a special event to felicitate Commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd.) for his unparalleled commitment to promoting transparency and accountability through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The event brought together a group of prominent RTI activists from Mumbai to honor Cmdr. Batra's tireless efforts in safeguarding citizens' rights. |
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| To relive the inspiring discussion, you can watch the full video recording which has been published on our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnKdpPTHwDg and read the detailed write-up on our website here: Commodore Lokesh Batra Felicitated for His Tireless RTI Activism by Moneylife Foundation, Activists from Mumbai |
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| Moneylife Foundation remains committed to advocating for transparency, and we are proud to honor champions like Cmdr. Batra who have led the charge. |
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| Counselling and Helplines |
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 Our counselling services continue to receive excellent response. We now regularly provide counselling for matters on housing socieites with Mr Shirish Shanbhag on Wednesdays; for banking, consumer and insurance matters with Mr Abhay Datar on Tuesdays; and for Mhada, Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) and cessed buildings or criminal and consumer litigation with Advocate Avinash Phatak on Thurdays (on a fortnightly basis). |
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| Counselling is in person and via video conferencing through Zoom by prior appointment (Call 022- 35131664 or 35036925 ), or write to our legal helpline. Please also make an effort to visit and share the links to our website, where you can read more about cases of mis-selling, fraud alerts, consumer cases and also solutions to housing society problems. |
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| Join us on WhatsApp and Telegram |
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| We realise that most members find it easier to access information on WhatsApp /Telegram etc. If you are not already on our lists, please click on this link to join – https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone= 917045156415&text= Hi%21+Please+add+me+to+your+broadcast+ lists+and+make+me+a+member.&app_absent=0 and follow our Telegram channel here – https://telegram.me/moneylife_foundation. |
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| Check our Free Helplines and Guides or Templates as well as our YouTube Channel, where you will find a wide repository of videos on various topics. |
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| Video recordings of all our webinars are available on our YouTube channel and will come to your inbox regularly if you hit the subscribe button. But if you want to be notified about future events through our mailing list, you do need to be a member. |
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| Moneylife TV & Helplines |
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| Financial Literacy Videos in Indian Languages: |
- Credit cards
- Online frauds
- Fallacy of gold loans and more in Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Tamil, all on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/moneylifetv).
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| Get guidance and counselling through our Legal Helpline or Credit Helpline. |
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| Sucheta Dalal |
| Founder-Trustee, Moneylife Foundation |
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| Trustees: TS Krishnamurthy, Walter Vieira, Sucheta Dalal, Debashis Basu. | | | | Moneylife Foundation is registered with the Charity Commissioner of Mumbai, is an Affiliate member of OECD's International Network on Financial Education, is a Supporter Member of Consumers International, Development Partner of Advocates for International Development (A4ID), and is a winner of the 10th MR Pai Memorial Award. | | |  | | | | Donations are eligible for tax benefits under Sec 80G of the Income Tax 1961 (50% tax exemption) and MLF is registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. 80(G) Reg No: DIT(E)/MC/80G/685/2010-11 dated 7.2.11 effective 8.+9.2010 | FCRA Registration No: 08378138  | | | |
