INDIA: Policy makers to mark International Day of Older Persons

. 700 elders travel more than 2000 kms to put forth their demands to Government NEW DELHI (HelpAge), October 1, 2008: As Delhi city slowly wakes up this morning, a unique gathering of school children, adults and seniors citizens will be be gearing themselves up on Rajpath for the symbolic inter-generation walkathon to mark International Day of Older Persons. India's Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ms. Meira Kumar, will flag off the walkathon organized by HelpAge India with support from her Ministry. HelpAge hopes to bridge the widening gap between generations through this walkathon. Over 300 school children, along with 2500 older people, from grandparents, to elderly from senior citizen associations and individuals, will march together. The 1.25 km walk will culminate at India Gate. Later today, Mr. Kapil Sibal, the Indian Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences will join in presenting the HelpAge Golden Award to Dr. K. Padma Rao for his contributions to society. The Samson Daniel Award for the school which has made the highest contribution to the cause will be presented to OCPM Girls Higher Secondary School of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The HelpAge Silver Plate Award for Corporate Social Responsibility wii go to OCL India Ltd. Mr. Kapil Sibal will also launch a book on Wellness of Elderly, about preventive and therapeutic health care. The International Day of Older Persons is observed in India since 1991, notes Mathew Cherian, Chief Executive, HelpAge India. This year October 1 will have a special way of celebrating Age. A first of it’s kind 84 year old Muniyappam, has never travelled by train before, in fact has barely ventured outside his remote village in Cuddalore District in Tamil Nadu. On October 1, Muniyappam will be among the 705 elderly from remote areas in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, who wii travel over 2,000 kms to Delhi, in a special train from Cuddalore to put forth to the Government of India their demands, including a plea for setting up a National Commission for the Aged. These representatives of Elder Self Help Groups of the 1994 tsunami-hit elders have come together at village and district levels and registered as Elders for Elders Foundation with support from HelpAge India under its Tsunami Extended Response Programme. At an elaborate programme this evening, Mr. S. Arunachalam, Managing Trustee of Elders for Elders Foundation, will handover a Memorandum of Demands to a group of parliamentarians that will include Ms. Renuka Chaudhary, India's Minister for Women & Child Development; Mr. A. Raja, Minister for Information Technology; Justice MSA Siddiqui, Chairman of the National Commission for Minority, and Mr. Raghupathy, Minister of State for Forests & Environment. The senior citizens are demanding their rightful due, emerging out of the UN declaration of human rights, the National Policy on Older Persons and most importantly the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging, 2002. HelpAge India is hosting programmes throughout the country today to mark the day dedicated to the elderly. With an estimated 90 million of age 60 and more, India has the world's second largest population of senior citizens. Three of every four of these older people live in rural areas. Nearly 90% are from the unorganized sector with little or no social security. HelpAge has worked in India for over 30 years and supports age care programmes in association with grass root partners to make lasting improvements in the lives of disadvantaged older persons throughout the country. Source: HelpAge India