International Older Persons Day - IDOP - Hyderabad HelpAge 2017

IDOP in Hyderabad – HelpAge India Meeting – 1^st Oct 2017

As usual HelpAge India AP/TS regional office celebrated International Day of Older Persons on  1^st October 2017 in Hyderabad.

Sri Raza Mohamad, Chief of HelpAge AP/TS, welcomed all. There were several senior citizens SHG members from Chottu Uppal, Patancheru, Shamshabad etc representing rural poor. He  explained the activities of HelpAge in protecting respect of elders through SAVE program – intergenerational sensitization of school children.

Sri Uppula Gopala Rao said that State Govt must implement NPOP & MWPSCA properly. Food, respect, money should be provided to all indigent senior citizens. He also spoke about donations he made to Voice of Senior Citizens – Monthly, HelpAge etc.

Sri SN Reddy Secretary of Telangana Recognized School Mgmt Association assured full support to HelpAge in sensitizing school children in caring for the elderly in 12000 schools, under his purview.

Sri BR Madhusudhan Rao, Member Secretary Telangana State Legal Services Authority was the chief Guest.  TSLSA offers free legal help to senior citizens through hundreds of para-legal volunteers and service minded advocates. Their Helpline number is 151500, toll free.  Several cases of Elder Abuse, Neglect and victimization, learnt through newspapers, have been taken up for mediation, counseling and settling issues.

Sri G Muralidhar, Chief Mentor Akshara, Guest of Honour for the day, said that basic needs of the elderly  must be met by the govt. He advised senior citizens to go ahead and enjoy life without postponing their desires or wishes; they should not transfer property to children when alive; be actively engaged with grand children friend etc.

It is a pity that none of the speakers touched the theme for IDOP viz Fighting Ageism, though every participant was given a badge reminding us of the theme for the year!

In the next part of the meeting several senior citizens were honored -  all members of State Senior Citizens Council, those who won sports competitions held by HelpAge.  Some, whose names I remember are:   Smt Nagachandrika Devi, Sri P Kishan Rao, Sri Sridhar, Dr G Nageshwar Rao, Sri Uppula Gopala Rao, Sri Peddi Sudhakar, Sri Prabhakar etc. I missed being felicitated,   as I had to leave early due to another urgent engagement, I learnt later on.

Lunch packets, water, cool drinks, biscuits etc were distributed to all.  Efforts put in to celebrate International Older Persons day yielded satisfaction to all – elderly participants, speakers, NGOs, SCAs, media etc.

World Elders Day - Hyderabad District Function - Tarnaka 4th October 2013

REPORT ON World Elders day Celebrations on 4^th October 2013

Tarnaka

Report by IVLN Chary

International day of Older Persons was celebrated by Hyderabad dist of Government of Andhra Pradesh, Department of the welfare of disabled & senior citizens from 10 AM on 4^th October 2013  at Vijayapuri Colony Welfare Association, Tarnaka, Hyderabad. This was from Hyderabad District exclusively.

The chief guest of the function was Smt Rekharani, Addl. Joint collector, Hyderabad Dist. The proceeding were conducted by Prof. Visveswaraiah. The other dignitaries on the dais were: Sri Mital AISCCON, Sri L Kishan, RDO Secunderabad, Sri S. Das, Director State Head Help Age India, Hyderabad,  Sri B Linga reddy TCSCCON,  Smt Radha Ramaiah  Secretary Mahila Dakshata Samithi, Smt Manjula Kalyan, Secretary Swayam krushi an NGO for special children.

Smt Rekharani in her address mentioned her own life as an illustration. Married to an IPS officer at the age of 22, losing him at 23 as he was killed by naxals in Karimnagar dist and returning to her parents who were government officials who took her in, gave her hope, educated her till she was selected as an RDO in AP Govt. She said, her son calls her parents as nanna and amma and her as akka. The boy won many gold medals and now at 23 is in USA. All this was only possible due to her parents guiding her and her son’s life. She is loath to use the term Senior citizens and preferred  the term “Super seniors “  She paid  a compliment to the seniors by comparing them to Hanuman  who did not realize his own strength till reminded. Seniors who have seen most of the ups and downs of life are an asset to the community and have to be treated as such.

Then she honoured the following seniors with a shawl and a memento. These seniors are from different walks of life and contributed to the welfare of other seniors.

Sri IVLN Chary	Senior Citizens Forum, Secunderabad
Sri IM Bhalla	Association of senior citizens, Hyderabad
Smt Radha Ramaiah	Integrated program for older persons
Smt Manjula Kalyan	Self reliance for mentally challenged
Sri DS Sastry	Senior Citizens Forum, Tarnaka.
Sri NV Raman	Senior Citizens Forum, Gandhi nagar
Smt NM Rajeshwari	Thodu Needa, Institutional award
Dr. P Ragavaraddy	FAPSCO
Sri RN Mital	AISCCON
Sri D Prabhakar rao	APSCCON

This was followed by speeches of dignitaries and recipients of honours.

The function is very well organized thanks to untiring efforts of Sri B Linga Reddy, President of Twin Cities Senior Citizens Confederation, Sri D Sudarshan Asst Director, Welfare of Disabled & Sr. Citizens, Hyderabad dist, Govt of AP  and Help Age India.

About 150 seniors attended the meeting. Meeting ended with lunch served for all.