Actress Madhobi Mukherji, other senior citizens honoured

New Delhi, Oct 30 (UNI) Renowned nonagenarian actress from Bengal Madhobi Mukherji was today honoured with Vayoshreshtha Samman given to eminent senior citizens of the country.

Among other awardees were centanarian J L Dalal from Haryana and Prof Turaga Somasundaram from Hyderabad, who was given the Samman for lifetime achievement. Mr H Ramegowda, a 75-year-athlete from Karnataka and 83-year-old Football Player Shailen Manna from Kolkata were also given the award. T V Narayana Shastry got the award in the Economic Leadership category.

Ms Mukherji was given the award in the category of creative arts.

This year's Vayoshreshtha Samman for Institution of Knowledge was given to Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India from Kerala, while Chikmagalur Rotary and Inner Wheel Trust, Jeevan Sandhya, was given the Award for Institution of Service.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar said the Vayoshreshtha Samman was just a modest recognition of the senior citizens' compassion, determination, creativity and devotion to the cause of humanity, and it was a humble gesture to honour their relentless and remarkable service to the society and nation.

She said her Ministry had already launched National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) to ensure active and productive ageing by providing financial, medical, social and emotional support.

The Ministry had also formulated a law 'Care and Maintenance of Older People' which was being considered by a Parliamentary Committee.

The proposed Bill provides for maintenance, care and protection and setting up of Tribunals for every district, which will take care of claiming payment of maintenance from grand children, she added.

The Awardees were presented with shawls, citations and mementoes in the function. To create wider awareness about the issues a 'Meghdoot Postcard' with a picture and slogan was also released by Ms Kumar.

Earlier in the day, a seminar '' Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities of Aging: Empowering Older Persons'', was organised by the National Institute of Social Defence and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

UNI