“Compassion is not just a feeling, it’s a Responsibility!” This sense of responsibility rendered through humanitarian service can give dignity to broken and forgotten people through love and support, said Padma Vibhushan Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, while speaking at the ILC-I Awards 2024 ceremony in Pune, about Sister Lucy Kurien, Founder of Maher and the National winner of the Anjani Mashelkar Inspiration Award 2024.

International Longevity Centre-India (ILC-I), which works for Productive, Qualitative, Active, Healthy and Participatory Ageing, held its ILC-I Annual Awards 2024 on the 5th of December, at the Auditorium Medical College, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Katraj campus, to felicitate and award the senior citizens’ organizations and senior citizens, who have done commendable work, a journalist for promoting qualitative journalism in Ageing and a woman over the age of 60 years for overcoming life’s challenges and serving as an icon of inspiration!

The Chief Guest on the occasion was Prof. Dr. Shivajirao Kadam, Chancellor, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University (BVDU) and the Guest of Honour was Dr. Vivek Saoji, Vice Chancellor, BVDU.

The function was presided over by PadmaVibhushan Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, President of ILC-I. Mr. Jayant Umranikar, former Director-General of Police and Chairman, ILC-I welcomed the guests.
The ILC-I Awards comprise the following:

1. The late Shri B. G. Deshmukh Awards for senior citizens organizations and the Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar for individual senior citizens over the age of 70 years.

The winners of the senior citizens’ organizations awards were:
1) Sri Swami Samarth Jyeshth Nagarik Sangh Warulevadi Naryangav,Junnar

2) Dahanukar-Happy Colony Jyeshth Nagrik Sangh, Kothrud, Pune

3) Vanprasthashram,Talegav Station, Maval

These Awards carried a trophy, a citation and a cheque of Rs. 10,000 each.

The Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar Awards were given to

a) Shri Surgounda Patil, 77 years

b) Shri Arun Rode, 79 years

c) Shri Pandurang Dadu Shenvi, 81years

These Awards carried a trophy, a citation and a cheque of Rs. 5000 each.
A special Sanman Patra Award was given to: Shri Nilkanth Vasudev Bajaj, Sadabhar Jayeshth Nagrik sangha,Bavdhan

The late Dr. S. D. Gokhale Award for promoting qualitative journalism in Ageing was given to Ms. Chaitraly Deshmukh of Pune Mirror. It carries a citation, trophy, and a cheque of Rs. 5000.