NGO announces awards for senior citizens

Mumbai, Sep. 30 (ANI): An NGO working for senior citizen on Wednesday announced the winners of the awards for the year 2009.

The annual awards honour dedicated to 10 elderly men and women will be presented by actress Hema Malini on Thursday.

Tina Ambani, the founder of Harmony for Silvers Foundation, said that she enjoys touching peoples' lives though her work.

"This role I am thoroughly enjoying because it's is a role which gives me a chance to actually touch peoples' lives, very directly and I think I enjoy that," said Tina Ambani, founder Harmony for Silvers Foundation, Mumbai.

One of the awardees said the recognition would give her enthusiasm.

"I am really happy that they have recognised, they have given us encouragement and enthusiasm and our energy is, I feel doubled, so that age is no bar, as much as I can, as long as I can, I must do my services," said Sister Jude, one of the awardees.

Sixty-eight year-old Jude wanted to become a nun but became a doctor instead. As a gynaecologist Jude dedicated her life to work for the sick and poor at Mau.

She has performed 70,000 caesarean operations at the Christian missionary-run Fatima Hospital and has even set a record of attending to 382 patients in a single day.

Sindhutai Sapakal, 61, another awardee established a home for destitute children and women in 1988. She said that one should dedicate small part of one's life to social work.

She has groomed over 1,000 children in the past 35 years.

"One has a role in society. One should live life for oneself but a small part of it should be dedicated to others," said Sindhutai Sapakal, a noted social worker and one of the awardees.

The five-member jury for the awards included senior Supreme Court advocate Fali Nariman and veteran actors Sharmila Tagore and nupam Kher. (ANI)