Nominations Invited for the National Award :UNV Karmaveer Chakra 2011"Exceptional work for Senior Citizens"

We Invite Nomination for A National Award for Exceptional Work for Age Care: UNV Karmaveer Chakra 2011 “Exceptional work for Senior Citizens”.


This award is Promoted by iCONGO “KARMAVEER PURASKAAR (KVP)” , VSO & Silver Inning Foundation , organisation working with Elderly. This year the Award will be given In Delhi / Goa on 26th or 27th November 2011.


Last Date for Applying: 30th Sep 2011.

Pls contact us for application form (you can also get application form from link below) and send your application duly signed by Email to silverinnings@gmail.com , you can also send application by courier if you don’t have email facility to : Silver Inning Foundation ,C/o. Sailesh Mishra ,ARENA III , Flat - 801/802, Poonam Garden , Mira Road -East,Mumbai.India – 401107 . Pls chk Terms & Condition before Applying in the form .


Eligibility:

· Any Individual, person of Indian Origin of minimum age of 25yrs and above, who is working with/for Senior Citizens

· Currently working / current project in Age care, on date of nomination

· Worked on the project minimum 3 yrs OR Social Entrepreneur/ Innovator for Age care


Pls download Application form from here:
http://silverinnings.posterous.com/#!/nominations-invited-for-the-national-award-un


Terms & Condition:
• Employee and Family members/Relatives of iCONGO , Silver Innings and Silver Inning Foundation are not eligible
• Nomination age should be 25 yrs and above on date of application.
• The Nomination form will not be accepted until the all sub heads are completed.
• Self nomination allowed
• If any information found to be false in the nomination form , then the nomination will automatically get disqualified
• If the nominated person found to do any form of Elder Abuse , the nomination will get automatically disqualified
• Only final selected person for the Award will be informed and no communication will be made with other nomination application
• As this is Civil Society Initiative no reimburse or payment will be given for Travel , Accommodation & Lodging for attending this Event
• The Award will be given In Delhi/ Goa on 26th or 27th November 2011
• Awards shall not be given in absentia. However Awards in absentia may be considered at the discretion of the management, in case of any mishaps or unavoidable/ unforeseen circumstances due to which the awardees cannot be present. In case the management decides not to give away the award in absentia, after knowing the reasons for being unable to attend, then the management reserves the right to cancel the award or carry it forward to the next year. In case the award is given in absentia, a close family member or a colleague shall be present to receive the award and the awardee shall send in an acceptance speech on DVD or VCD format.
• The nominees have to abide all the Karmaveer guidelines( listed below and on Karmaveer website)
• The Decision of iCONGO & Silver Inning Foundation management will be Final


iCONGO Award Criteria & Guidelines

Award Criteria

The KARMAVEER Chakra is a coveted recognition for a chosen few, who have decided to ‘Be The Change’ that they want to see in this world. It is the National Medallion for proactive Voluntary Action to Be The Change. It shall be given to citizens who are proactive volunteers and work selflessly for a cause dear to their heart, not just by donating money but by being involved with the cause, understanding the issues and proactively advocating for the cause. The karmaveer Chakra is also given to citizens, including students, for their selfless FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT to improve systems and encourage good governance. This award is not instituted to promote any consumer brand and has a rich and empowering value based philosophy as it's foundation. The award is not given to just anyone and everyone, but to concerned citizens who have consistently proven that it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness by doing whatever little or big they could for social justice through citizen action. Past awardees have gone ahead to win bigger awards and have also become global ambassadors/ advisers/ champions/fellows and leaders for international organizations.

The UNV Karmaveer Chakra will be given to those volunteers who have contributed their time with innovative ideas, freewill, commitment, active engagement and solidarity for socio-economic causes

Based on discussion and suggestions from various awardees, nominators and citizens, the UNV Karmaveer Chakra criteria for award winners is as given below:

• The award is open to Indian Nationals.

• Award will be strictly on merit- by recommendation, nomination and selection.

• Nominations can be sent by email or postal mail (online preferred and more desired than snail mail, unless not possible due to lack of access to net by an awardee)


• Any Form, received after the last day of Submission, will not be considered for selection. To accept forms post submission day, in case of delay due to unforeseen circumstances, shall be at the discretion of the management.

• The selection shall be done through a detailed Jury process, as decided by UNV and iCONGO. The decision of the management is final and binding.


• The awardees will be given a Chakra(medal) and a citation. The award does not involve any cash prize and any request for cash or monetary benefits by nominees or awardees shall not be entertained and the management reserves the right to reject any such nominations with immediate effect.

• The details of all the awardees will be put up unv http://www.undp.org.in/unv, www.righteverywrong.com, www.karmaveer.com, along with their citations.


• The awardees will be intimated one month before the awards function.


Guidelines


1. The Award Ceremony will be held in Delhi/ Goa. All Karmaveer nominees/ finalists awardees shall attend the awards ceremony and make their own travel arrangements and bear their own expenses. iCONGO shall only help all awardees to facilitate accommodation, if help is needed for planning their stay in Delhi/Goa.

2. All awardees shall have to be present through the entire awards ceremony and stay on till the end of the ceremony as a mark of respect and to show dignity towards other fellow awardees and noble laureates. If any person leaves after receiving their award, the management reserves the right to call back for the trophy and citation and cancel the award.

3. The awards shall be given in a set sequence or decided by the management for the ceremony. No requests to change the sequence or receive the award faster shall be entertained.

4. In case of any misconduct or unbecoming behavior by any awardee who has received a Karmaveer Chakra, the management reserves the right to cancel the award even in the future and the persons name shall be removed from all websites.

5. All awardees shall be required to write a few thoughts and speak on the theme of the RIGHT every WRONG conclave in the year of receiving the award.

Senior Citizen Blasts Government of Maharashtra for their Apathy towards Elderly

78yrs young RTI & Senior Citizen Activist Mr.Manshuklal.V.Ruparelia talks about the problems of Senior Citizens and the State Government Neglect and lack of Political Will for the Policy and Welfare of Senior Citizens. This One Man Mission Pledges to Fight till Last Breath to bring Justice and Dignity to Senior Citizens in India and State of Maharashtra. We Salute his Commitment and Energy for the Cause. Senior Citizen's National Solidarity Day: 16th August, 2011. This is Silver Inning Foundation presentation. www.silverinnings.com

Senior Citizens of India Demand Action: They Rise to Highlight their Concern

Press Release : 10th August 2011

Another year will be added to the celebrations of India’s Independence Day on 15th August 2011 and the platitudes regarding people, culture, ethnicity, values, etc will once again be repeated through various mediums. Have these good intentions been translated into practice?

When it comes to intentions and practice, especially with senior citizens it raises a big question. Despite the fact that the NPOP(National Policy for Older Persons) was adopted by the Central Government as far back as 1999, the neglect by the State and Central Governments and the entire bureaucracy in the tardy or virtual non-implementation of policies with regard to the welfare of senior citizens is most obvious.


Progress since 16th August, 2010

In response to this injustice and neglect, 16th August 2010 was observed as a National Protest Day. As a result of nationwide activity last year, there has been some semblance of positive action from the Central Government such as concessions in Income Tax structure, Railway fares, quantum of Old Age Pension, eligibility criteria for concessions etc. There are also numerous glaring disparities in payment of pensions to retirees from different sectors, causing severe hardship in some cases. These need to be highlighted and their redressal sought.

Progress on the demands highlighted in last year's Protest Day has been painfully slow. Specifically, the Union budget of March 2011 has lowered the age for eligibility to concessions for senior citizens from 62 to 60 years, seniors above the age of 80 years (oldest old) have been exempted from Income Tax and the railway budget has extended concession in passenger fares. Specially in the case of Maharashtra, Senior Citizens Associations under the leadership of the Joint Action Committee, Maharashtra have met the concerned minister on several occasions to demand that the State Policy for Seniors be promulgated. Promises have been made, but it is yet to see the light of day. What has been achieved is the adoption and notification of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act (MWPSCA, 2007). However, nothing has been done to spread awareness about the Act and the tribunals which are to be created at the district level for its effective implementation are nowhere to be seen.


Rationale for the Solidarity Day - 16th August, 2011

It is obvious that State governments are yet to wake up and respond. They continue to be indifferent towards the problems and concerns of senior citizens. Hence through the activities leading upto August 16, 2011 the focus of attention is to demand that state governments fulfill their commitments. Senior Citizens organizations around India felt that the momentum gained by the observance of Senior Citizens National Protest Day last year on 16th August 2010 should not be allowed to dissipate. Senior citizens should continue to mark their presence in society and particularly with the government. And hence this year it has been decided to observe 16th August 2011 as SENIOR CITIZENS NATIONAL SOLIDARITY DAY all over India.

On the National Solidarity Day 16th August, the Centre For Lifelong Learning, at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences along with 10 crores Older Persons (60 +) citizens of the country, the vast majority of whom are indigent, underfed, insecure and unorganized, are demanding the Government’s immediate attention and action to implement welfare policies and available legislation at state level. The intentions of the Central Government in formulating schemes / policies for the older persons has been to relieve them from the clutches of hunger, disease, poverty, neglect and insecurity. Three policies exists to translate their intention. These are: National Policy on Older Persons, (NPOP, 1999), enactment of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act (MWPSCA, 2007), and announcing the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS, 2007). These Acts are a part of the country’s commitment to protect the Human Rights of its senior citizens.

These steps also safeguard the rights of the Older Persons as citizens mandated in the Directive Principles of State Policy of the Indian Constitution which states that “the State will extend support for financial security, health care and shelter for senior citizens and provide protection against abuse and exploitation”.


Specific areas of non-implementation

At the core of the problem is the non-implementation of the NPOP, MWPSCA, and IGNOAPS. The Central Government has directed the State Governments to adopt and operationalise these provisions, however they have largely ignored the issue by declaring a lack of resources. The situation is no better for schemes where the Central Government has allocated partial resources.


The following illustrate the above mentioned statements.

a) Though mandated in the National Policy on Older Persons no health security has been provided by most of the States / UT’s. In the absence of State subsidized health insurance, if a senior citizen falls ill, quality health care is unaffordable.
Today unaffordable health care costs are the major contributor to the poverty in our country as every year 2.1 % of population is pushed below poverty line due to unaffordable health care costs.

b) The status of adoption of NPOP by various states, even after 11 years of its promulgation by the Central Government is bleak; as only seven states, that is, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi have adopted NPOP.

c) The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act (MWPSCA, 2007), largely remains on paper even after its enactment four years ago. This Act if implemented will give protection to the most vulnerable sections of senior citizens who are at risk of abandonment from their own family .But only 7 states have adopted it with fulfillment of two or three conditions out of the specified 5 conditions proposed in the Act.

d) The amount that is paid through the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is a meagre Rs.200 from the Central Government. This provision is intended to provide monetary support to senior citizens who are Below Poverty Line and States are expected to match the grant of Rs.200 with an equal amount. Here too, the range between States in the share they provide is from Rs.800 to none at all. While Delhi & Goa are contributing Rs.800,the states of Haryana and Maharashtra are contributing Rs.500 and Rs.400 respectively but in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh there is no contribution by the state at all. In Andhra Pradesh it is claimed that the amount is being spent on the disabled population.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Nodal Ministry which is expected to co-ordinate and monitor the progress of the schemes as well as the setting up of an autonomous National Council of Older Person would do well to have a thorough introspection and take quick and appropriate remedial action urgently and immediately.

The Senior Citizen Associations including AISSCON & FESSCOM have over the years been lobbying with the Governments to highlight the non-implementation of provisions of the various Acts and Schemes. With the slow response forthcoming, it has been decided to observe a SOLIDARITY DAY ON 16TH AUGUST 2011 to make the respective State Governments aware that Older Persons in the country and state will not be taken for granted any longer. The Solidarity Day proceedings will be supported by 27 National, State and Local level organizations, NGO’s, Associations of Banks / Insurance companies, retired employees and will be observed over the entire country.

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences joins the Joint Action Committee in supporting this nationwide observation on 16th August 2011 as a National Solidarity Day and appeals to the media to highlight the gross injustice being meted out to Senior Citizens. Society as a whole shares equal responsibility for safeguarding the rights of older persons.


JAC Maharashtra Supporters:

1. AISCCON
2. FESCOM
3. International Longevity Center - India
4. Silver Inning Foundation
5. Harmony for Silvers Foundation
6. GIC Pensioners Association
7. The Family Welfare Agency
8. General Insurance Pensioners, All India Federation
9. Brihan Mumbai Pensioners Association
10. All India Bank Retirees Federation
11. Dignity Foundation
12. Help Age India
13. Indian Federation of Ageing
14. All India Retired Reserve Bank Employee Association
15. MTNL Pensioners Workers Associations
16. All India Central Government Pensioners Association
17. Brihan Mumbai Retired Employees Association
18. All India Retired Insurance Employees Federation
19. Alzheimer’s Related Disorder Society of India (ARDSI) , Greater Mumbai Chapter
20. Jeevan Adhar Seva Sanstha
21. Shree Ramanugrah Trust
22. Center for Life Long Learning , TISS
23. 1298 Senior Citizens Helpline




Centre for lifelong Learning
TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
25525000 / 25525682/ 2552 5686 / 25525692
Website: www.tiss.edu
Blog: www.centreforlifelonglearningtiss.blogspot.com

10th August 2011
TISS ,Mumbai

Senior Citizens raise their voice against government apathy

Dr.S.P.Kinjawadekar ,Chairman of Joint Action Committee (JAC) Maharashtra and immediate past president of AISCCON sharing his view regarding need for Senior Citizens National Solidarity Day: 16th August 2011.

Senior Citizens inspite of their number, collective wisdom & experience, will continue to be ignored and marginalized unless they unite. -- Kofi Annan

Today India has around 100 million Senior Citizens (60+) who are neglected and ignored by Central and State government. Senior Citizens are angry and agitated with continuous apathy by government towards them. After 63 years of Indian Independence & democracy experiment there are segments of people who are not treated at par with others, there is injustice and discrimination towards them. One of the most neglected and ignored segment is of our Elders. Senior Citizens want Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, Discrimination,Poverty, Insecurity, & Injustice .

Website : http://scnsd.posterous.com , Fcaebook : https://www.facebook.com/groups/scnsd/

This video is Silver Inning Foundation presentation.

HelpAge India Invites Senior Citizens Nomination for Golden Award 2011

The Golden Award was instituted by HelpAge India in the year 1993 to honour exceptional individuals who have contributed consistently for the welfare of the society and more so in their advancing years.

The Golden Award was conceived by HelpAge India with the view to honour an individual above 80 years of age who shows exemplary courage in fighting the challenges that ageing present to her/him to serve the humanity. This is not only an acknowledgement of their personal achievement but also our way of gently reminding the society what older persons are capable of!


The award constitutes a Citation, a Special Memento and a Cheque for Rs. 10,000/-.
The recipients include luminaries like Shri H.D. Shourie (Director Common Cause), Justice B.P. Berry (Retired Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court and Vice Chairman Red Cross), Dr. C. Gopalan (President, Nutrition Foundation of India), Shri P.L. Tandon (Ex. Chairman Levers, STC Punjab National Bank & NCAER), Mr. R.H. Belavadi (2006) nominated to the Indian Administrative Service and appointed as the Inspector General of Prisons Maharashtra) Mr. Inder Prakash Anand (2007) (Retired Executive Director of Thapar Group, on the Board of Governors of IIT, Kanpur and various Regional Engineering Colleges, currently on the Management Board of ILO, Institute of Labour Studies and ILO’s International Training Centre); Dr. K. Padma R. Rao ( 2008)(M.D. in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, taught both Under-graduates and Post-graduates students in Medical Colleges in Bangalore, Bellary & Hubli, Founder President of the Senior Citizens’ Forum. During this period, she conducted six care givers’ courses at Asha Jeevan & Abhaya Ashram); Mrs Oshima Raikhy(2009) (reputed social worker Managing Trustee of Aruna Asaf Ali Memorial Trust that works for the development of underprivileged children and women) and Mr. R.N. Mital (2009) (Engineering from the Roorkee University of Technology, Chairman and Managing Director of South India Resins and Chemicals P. Ltd. Senior Vice President of All India Senior Citizens’ Confederation. He made earnest efforts to unify the senior citizens movement in Andhra Pradesh and succeeded in forming one umbrella organisation called Andhra Pradesh Senior Citizen’ Confederation); Mrs Vijaya Mulay (2010) a renowned educationist and film maker who directed and scripted a short animation film Ek Anek aur Ekta, which won the National Silver Lotus award in 1974. In 1998, she won Vikram Sarabhai Lifetime Achievement Award for educational communication given by the UGC and CEC (Consortium of Universities for Educational Communication). In 2005, when the NCERT was revising national curriculum, she chaired the focus group on educational technology.



Selection Criterion
 Person to be citizen of India
 No bar on caste or religion
 Age above 80 years (The oldest old will be given preference)
 All other conditions remaining equal women candidate/s will be given preference
 A successful career during pre-retirement period
 In the advancing years, a notable contribution to the welfare of society and thereby achieving eminence
 Contributions to society not yet recognised at national or international level
 Should be an example for other senior citizens to emulate


Selection Process
 Call for nominations. The Advisory Committee reserves the right to include name of any candidate nominated in the previous years.

 Scrutiny of the names and short listing by the Advisory Committee

 Final short listed names along with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee to be viewed by the Jury

 Final decision of the Jury

 Presentation of the Award


Last date for submission of Application/ Nomination:
Monday, 22nd August 2011.

Contact:
Anupama Datta
anupama@helpageindia.org

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME in POLICY FORMULATION, PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION and MONITORING of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2011

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGEING UNITED NATIONS – MALTA in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME in POLICY FORMULATION, PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION and MONITORING of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing : 17 – 28 October 2011, Malta



BACKGROUND
The dramatic and unprecedented increase in the number and proportion of older persons in the World is leading to various political, economic and social consequences and challenges. In developing countries, where by the year 2025, seventy-two per cent of the World’s older persons are expected to be living, this demographic phenomenon will pose a particular challenge. Although a number of developing countries have initiated various innovative and concrete measures aimed at meeting the needs of older persons, there exists an acute shortage of trained care-givers at all levels in the field of Gerontology. In February 2007, the United Nations began its five-year review of progress towards the achievement of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing agreed upon by the international community at the Second World Assembly on Ageing which took place in Madrid, in April 2002.


OBJECTIVES
This multi-disciplinary Training Programme in Social Policy, designed by an International Expert Group, is aimed at discussing the implications of population ageing, underscore the importance of including ageing issues in a country’s development planning and discuss options for policy formulation and programme / services’ implementation. It also aims at providing a broad and up-to-date understanding of the complex and far-reaching consequences of mass longevity. Participants are helped to evolve and implement appropriate policies, which will ensure the quality of life and well-being of older persons in their own society.


AREAS OF CONCENTRATION
The programme consists of lectures, seminars, site visits and workshops. Topics dealt with include: understanding the commitments of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing as well as the Regional Implementation Strategies; ensuring that policies in response to population ageing have a holistic approach and are implemented in a coordinated manner over a wide range of policy areas; exploring ways of facilitation the participation of all stakeholders namely: governments, civil society, the family, the community and the older persons themselves; collecting and disseminating the best knowledge and evidence based practices available regarding adequate policy responses to population ageing and monitoring progress towards the achievement of the Priority Directions and Recommendations of the Madrid Plan of Action.


WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS COURSE
Applications are invited from policy-makers and decision-makers in the field of Ageing in developing countries. They should be directly engaged in policy and decision-making for older persons in the statutory, voluntary or private sectors in their own country.


APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested persons and organisations may apply by sending the following to:
The Director, International Institute on Ageing, 117 St. Paul Street, Valletta VLT 1216, MALTA

1. An application form which is available through the Institute's web-site or directly from INIA.
2. Proof of proficiency in English.
3. A letter of recommendation from the Director of your Organisation.
4. A personal letter (giving reasons for attending the course).
5. Copies of relevant certificates.



Closing date for applications is 17 August 2011.

Course Fee: US$2,680 (includes tuition, board-http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifaccommodation and meals butexcludes travel).

INIA might have available a limited number of partial scholarships. However, since this is not guaranteed, it is in the interest of prospective candidates to secure alternative funding.



Contact:
International Institute on Ageing (United Nations - Malta), 117, St. Paul Street,
Valletta VLT 1216, MALTA.
Telephone: (+356) 21-243044/5/6 Telefax : (+356) 21-230248
E-mail: programmes@inia.org.mt . Web site: http://www.inia.org.mt

International Training Programme :Demographic Aspects of Population Ageing & its Implications for Socio-Economic Development, Policies & Plan 2011

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGEING UNITED NATIONS –MALTA in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON THEDEMOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF POPULATION AGEING AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC Development, Policies and Plans will be held on 14 - 25 November 2011, Malta.


BACKGROUND
Populations are ageing in an unprecedented manner. Over 70% of the older people will be in the Developing Countries, where the number of older people will more than double in the next two decades. They will require new policies and infrastructure - changes that must be based on demographic data and projections.

OBJECTIVES
The training programme in Demography designed by an International Expert Group is geared towards achieving a working knowledge of demographic concepts and techniques. Participants are helped at acquiring the methodological approaches, tools and techniques in demography adopted in assessing the conditions of older persons at global, regional and country level. In so doing, participants gain an ability to convey information effectively to policy makers.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION
The programme will consist of lectures and seminars. Topics dealt with are the Basic Demographic Concepts; Factors determining Population Structures; Data quality, Reliability and Availability; Projections; State-of-the-art Research and Modelling initiatives; Ageing and National Development; Health Implications of Ageing; Groups at High Risk;Social Status and Roles; Family; Community; Labour Market; Income Distribution/Economic Security; Health Expectancies.


WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS COURSE
Potential course candidates should be:

1. Working in the areas of planning and/or research at population level in their country or in an academic national or international organisation.
2. Having a very good working knowledge of English (including computer software in English).
3. Be literate in computers with good working knowledge of Excel or similar software.
4. Working in an ageing related field.


APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested persons and organisations may apply by sending the following to:
The Director, International Institute on Ageing,
117, St. Paul Street, Valletta VLT 1216, MALTA.

1. An application form which is available through the Institute's web-site or directly from INIA.
2. Proof of proficiency in English.
3. A letter of recommendation from the Director of your organization.
4. A personal letter (giving reasons for attending the course).
5. Copies of relevant certificates.

Closing date for applications is 14 September, 2011.

Course Fee: US$ 2,680 (includes tuition, board-accommodation and meals but excludes travel).

INIA might have available a limited number of partial scholarships. However, since these are extremely limited, it is in the interest of prospective candidates to secure alternative sources of


Contact:

International Institute on Ageing, (United Nations - Malta)
117, St. Paul Street,Valletta VLT 1216, MALTA
Telephone: (356)-21-243044/5/6 Telefax: (356)-21-230248
E-mail: programmes@inia.org.mt . Web-site: http://www.inia.org.mt