The Voice Of Senior Citizens: December 2010

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Govind Ladoba Parab Felicitated in Mumbai

Shri Govind Ladoba Parab was felicitated for his outstanding social and benevolent work among the masses by Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan in collaboration with The Federation of Senior Citizens’ Organisations of Maharashtra (FESCOM) on 24^th October 2010. One such Senior Citizen who was selected for this honour is 91 years old Shri Govind Ladoba Parab of J.B.Nagar,Andheri (East),Mumbai 400059. For his age, Shri Parab is physically, mentally and intellectually fit to carry out routine duties and social work at this age especially dealing with cases arising out with disputes with local body and Government Departments advising persons involved under Consumer Protection Act etc.

Mr. Parab and Mr. Manmohan Bagri have co-edited the following books on the life of senior citizens:

1) Handbook for Senior Citizens on behalf of Progresseive Senior Citizens Association, published on 26^th June 2005.

2) Varishth Nagriko ke liye Margdarshak Laghu Pustika in Hindi published on 18^th June 2006 for Progressive Senior Citizens’ Association.

3) Senior Citizens’ Welfare in English published in December 2009 for Silverlife.

On the basis of theses publications and his social work right for the last more than 40 years, he is awarded for this prestigious honour.

(This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a bilingual (Telugu & English) monthly newspaper, published from Hyderabad).

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AISCCON delegation meets Sonia Gandhi

Hyderabad: On 25^th October, 2010, a delegation of All India Senior Citizens Confederation led by Sri. R.N. Mittal, president of AISCCON, and Sri. Pradeep Mathur, MLA, Mathura, met Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, UPA Chairperson and submitted a memorandum about the senior citizens’ problems and issues. She promised to look into the possibility of setting up a separate commission for the senior citizens welfare. AISCCON had been demanding that a separate ministry and commission to be set up exclusively for senior citizens. The delegation told that she was also very positive about affordable health insurance for older people and the implementation of various schemes for the senior citizens.

Later, the delegation also met the ministry of the social justice and empowerment and submitted a memorandum about the senior citizens’ problems and welfare. The delegation also consisted DNA Chapke, N.B. Kulakarni and Prof. V. Visweraiah.

(This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a bilingual (Telugu & English) monthly newspaper, published from Hyderabad).

Memories of Justice P. J. Reddy [1910-1999]

Justice Sri. Pingle Jaganmohan Reddy was a remarkable person who inspired others to excel in their chosen fields. He was Judge of the Hyderabad High Court and then of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, later to become Chief Justice of that Court. He was elevated to the Supreme Court and retired from the Supreme Court in January 1975 and returned to his native place Hyderabad. At the invitation of Sri. J.Vengal Rao, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Justice Reddy accepted the office of Vice-Chancellor of Osmania University.

Of his extraordinary and exemplary performance as VC, I recollect one episode- when he held a meeting of the University Senate for approval of the Annual Budget. Sri. M.Narayan Reddy MLA who represented the Legislative Assembly in the Senate, also attended this meeting. He was also the Chairman of the A P Agro-Industries Corporation at that time.

During the meeting, Sri. Narayan Reddy, the first speaker, pointed out many deficiencies in the presentation of the Budget and also made suggestions to make the budget more transparent etc. The VC agreed with him and assured the Senate that the Budget Format will be recast on the lines suggested by Sri. Reddy. Thereafter, the Senate meeting was adjourned for few days.

Later the budget proposals were formulated on lines suggested by Sri.M.N.Reddy. One mornig, the VC took me to meet Sri. M.N.Reddy in his office in MasabTank. When he became aware of the visit by VC, Sri. M.N.Reddy rushed forward to receive the VC in his Chambers and expressed his embarrassment on this visit and protested that he would have come to VC’s office if he had been told. But the VC told him ‘not to feel embarrassed’ and told him that he wanted to visit him in his office to discuss all the points raised by him in the Senate meeting. He also said that he was confident that if Sri.Reddy approved the changed format the Senate would also accept changes. This episode shows a rare courage and humility of which he was the very personification. From this episode, the generations then, and those to come ,can learn about the many noble traits of the great man who set new trends in the administration of the Osmania University in raising the academic standards and showing that a person should always think himself lesser than the institution he serves.

May his soul rest in peace.

------Narrated by: Dr. Navaneeth Rao,

Former Vice Chancellor, Osmania University.

(This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a bilingual (Telugu & English) monthly newspaper, published from Hyderabad).

‘Aasara’ inaugurated at Kakinada

Kakinada: On 10^th November, 2010, the inaugural function of AASARA is held in the Municipal Corporation of Kakinada by Mr. M.KrishnaMohan, TPRO, Kakinada Muncipal Corporation and Mr.Appal Naidu, the Project Director, AASARA, Kakinada.

Mr.G.S.Murthy, commissioner, KMC, inaugurated the function by glowing the jyothi. Addressing the meeting, he explained the aims and objects of the formation of Aasara and also the services of the organization. He said that KMC would provide AASARA identity cards to all senior citizens free of cost with the help of MEPMA Project Director. He said that the senior citizens, who want to get identity cards, are supposed to fill the applications and submit them in the MEPMA office. “The KMC will do a survey of all senior citizens in the town. The senior citizens have to utilise the facilities and welfare schemes provided by the Government” said Mr. Murthy.

Speaking in the function, MEPMA Project Director Mr.AppalaNaidu made an appeal to the senior citizens to come forward to make use of welfare schemes introduced by government.

Mr.V.AnkaRaju, president of East Godavari district senior citizens’ organization, too addressed the meeting. B.satyanarayanaRaju, secretary, G.visweswara Rao, SriA.V.ramachandraRao, vice presidents of EGDSCO and many other elders of the city attended the function. Sri.M.Krishna Mohan, TPRO, KMC and Project Director AASARA presented the vote of thanks. Around 200 senior citizens participated in the meeting.

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(This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a bilingual (Telugu & English) monthly newspaper, published from Hyderabad).

‘Aasara’ Launched In All Districts In The State

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh state government has introduced a new “Aasara” scheme since 1^st November, 2010 in all the municipalities in the state. As a part of this scheme, the associations form special groups containing 7-50 members, who are above 60 years age. The long term objective of this policy is to enable the Senior Citizens to improve their quality of life through their own associations in urban areas. The program, already being successfully implemented in Hyderabad GHMC, has been launched throughout the state.

The GHMC Aasara, a senior citizens society whose services and activities are recognized by central government, was awarded a national prize on the occasion of International elders’ day in New Delhi. Inspiring by the success of the GHMC Aasara, the state government has decided to implement the same program in all the municipalities of the state.

MEPMA (Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas), as part of Poverty reduction strategy, has decided to address the issues relating to the senior citizens. Accordingly, MEMPA has developed a strategy to support senior citizens on the name of Aasara. As part of the AASARA program, it was also decided to form the senior citizens’ associations in 22 District Head Quarter towns for extending the value addition services to the senior citizens.

The authorities identified that senior citizens form 10-15 percent of the population in municipalities in the state. The associations help the senior citizens to provide them bank linkages and loans. The associations are set to conduct frequent health camps and provide them surgeries according to the intensity of the health problem. The associations also provide the senior citizens various services such as police protection and legal services, whenever required. The government has advised all the district collectors to promote awareness among the senior citizens about the scheme by holding group meetings with 500-600 senior citizens at a place. The associations train the aged people about the issues related to their rights, responsibilities, and needs of the senior citizens. The associations have also decided to take up the town level building construction for the senior citizens.

(This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a bilingual (Telugu & English) monthly newspaper, published from Hyderabad).

Tips for Management of Diabetes in Elderly

· Most elderly diabetics suffer from type-2 diabetes which does occur in adulthood.

· Regular physical activity plays an important role in management of diabetes.

· Brisk walking for 30-40 min or eqvilent physical activity in the house is the first medicine of the day. Preferably go for walk daily at the same time of the day and warm up (slow walking) before you start brisk walk.

· Never be barefooted since foot problem are a major challenge for diabetes.

· Always carry candies or sugar with you when you go out or for walking.

· Stop experience if you have feeling of faintness, palpitation or chest pain.

· Practice yoga (asanas and pranayamam) and meditation to reduce the mental stress.

· Food can be a powerful dietary approach to diabetes.

· Diets with low carbonydriate and fat keep a person close to their ideal healthy weight.

· Take small frequent meals and never delay your meals.

· Fasting and feasting is dangerous for diabetics.

· Eat only cooked vegetables and fresh fruits

· Main source of meal should be cereals, mixed coarse grains, whole pulses and salads.

· Meal plan should include 3 main meals of 400cal per meal and 2 snacks of 250cal per snack.

· Your diet should include 20-35g of fibre and 50g of protein.

· Avoid sweets, honey, soft drinks, fruit juices, jams, salty foods, fast foods, roots & fibre and very sweet fruits such as mango, grapes, pineapple, sapota, banana, and custard apple.

· Eat fruits such as apple, orange, jamun, guava, papaya, pear, peaches, plums, apricots & amla.

· Use your oils (sunflower, groundnut & soyabean) in rotation or use mixture or sunflower oil and soyabean oil in 1:1 ratio.

· Select low glycemic (whole wheat & pulses) high protein (nuts) and high fibre (vegetable & greens) foods for regular consumption.

· Prefer fish for meat & poultry and vegetable oils for ghee and butter.

· Use of artificial sweetness in limited quantity.

· Do not drink very cold water.

· Regular consumption of alcohol more than one peg leads to peripheral neuropathy.

· Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach or shortly after taking insulin or diabetic medicine.

· Diabetics should avoid alcohol.

· Smoking and use of tobacco should be prohibited.

· Diabetics should take drugs regularly as advised by the doctor.

· Do not change the drug dose with the change in your meal size (small meal or over eating).

· 25g of fenugreek seed (Methi seeds) powder per day in the morning in addition to the regular medicine helps blood sugar under control.

· Do not inject air into the insulin bottle before drawing up your dose.

· Regularly check up blood sugar and serum lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) once in 3 months to ensure confidence in health.

· Monitor glycosilated heamoglobin (HbA1c) once in 6 months to know the status of control of diabetes.

· Diabetics should consult diabetologist or podiatrist at least once a year to check the status of circulation of blood and nerve function in the legs.

· Develop positive attitude and healthy life style.

· If you are not diabetic at 60yrs of age but with family history of type-2 diabetes, prevent diabetes through diet, physical activity and by maintaining ideal weight.

(This blog is the online version of "VOICE OF SENIOR CITIZENS", a monthly newspaper, a bilingual (Telugu & English), published from Hyderabad)