HelpAge India, an NGO that works for the care of elderly disadvantaged persons and senior citizens, recently received the UN Population Award, a first for an institution in India. The award was last conferred on an Indian 28 years ago when it was awarded to JRD Tata as an individual laureate in 1992. HelpAge India has received the award for its efforts for the elderly over the past four decades. Its platform is advocating for senior citizens’ right to a universal pension, quality healthcare and action against abuse, among others, at the national and state level.
Bhutan’s Queen Mother Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck was given the 2020 United Nations Population Award in the individual category for her work on sexual health and gender violence. The much-coveted award consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a monetary prize.
”It has been a long and fulfilling journey for HelpAge India and this recognition by the UN has not only made us proud, but inspired and motivated us to continue doing what we know best, help those in need,” Kiran Karnik, chairperson, HelpAge India, had said on the announcement of the award last month. Operating for four decades, HelpAge India has its presence in over 20 states across the country and runs numerous programmes on the ground, addressing the needs of elderly people such as age-care, healthcare, livelihood, pension etc. There are an estimated 10.6 crore elderly people in India.
United Nations Population Award:
Each year, the Committee for the United Nations Population Award honours an individual and/or institution in recognition of outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health issues and solutions. The Award was established by the General Assembly in 1981, and was first presented in 1983. It consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a monetary prize. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) serves as its secretariat.
HelpAge India:
It is a leading charity in India working with and for disadvantaged elderly for nearly 4 decades. It was set up in 1978 and is registered under the Societies’ Registration Act of 1860. For the first time in the history of the UN Population Award, the honour is being conferred on an Indian institution. Only two Indians have been awarded in the past four decades since the award was established in 1981: former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1983 and industrialist-philanthropist J.R.D.Tata in 1992.
