It is common for any institution to give away their “best worker” awards. However, most of us think that a common man do not have much to do with it.
But Jnanajyothi, the Senior Citizens Forum of Banashankari II Stage, has, from the last 3 years been celebrating May Day in a slightly different manner. On this occasion, they honour one person each from the various civic amenity service providers who have been serving the residents of Banashankari II Stage.
According to M R Rangaswamy, President, Jnanajyothi, “Normally, it is the workers at the grass root level who are the first to respond to our complaints and rectify them. However they are invariably not acknowledged for the hard (and often not very pleasing or easy) work that they do day-in and day-out. We at Jnanajyothi felt that we could at least lay a foundation for improved communication and coordination between the service providers and citizens (especially the seniors). Hence, these May Day celebrations by our Forum."
Those felicitated in the function
Honoured this year were: Constable N Devaraju (Law & Order), Telecom Mechanic S Ravikumar (Bangalore Telephone Department), Junior Assistant R Sunil (BWSSB), Head Constable B R Nagaraju (Traffic Police), Lineman Puttamadegowda (BESCOM), Vandana S Mane (Department of Post & Telegraph), Pourakarmike N Lakshamma (BBMP) and V D Srinivas alias Sridhar (a volunteer who has been serving Jnanajyothi for the past 9 odd years).
This year, Jnanajyothi celebrated its May day on 18th May 2009 at Bhagirathi Auditorium, BNM College. Sivananjaiah, Director, Department of Disabled and Senior Citizens Welfare, Govt. of Karnataka, was the chief guest and Sridevi, actor and member of the Film Sensor Board was the Guest of Honour.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest expressed his view that such gestures on the part of citizens (especially elders) goes a long way in motivating the grass root level workers of various departments. He gave a brief account of the progress made in the implementation of the National Policy on Elders. Tribunals have been constituted under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007, he added.
Various speakers at the function urged the Government to put in place effective measures that would ensure pension and other funds meant for the aged reach them properly and not fall into corrupt hands.
It was a joyous occasion for those who were honoured as they were fecilitated in front of their families and friends. Thanking Jnanajyothi, Srinivas said that he would continue to serve the cause of senior citizens.
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