National Award For Senior Citizens (Vayoshreshtha Samman): Best District Panchayat In Providing Services And Facilities To Senior Citizens

National Award for Senior Citizens (Vayoshreshtha Samman): Recognizing Exceptional District Panchayats in Serving the Elderly

The “National Award for Senior Citizens (Vayoshreshtha Samman)” is an esteemed recognition given to district panchayats that excel in providing essential services and facilities for senior citizens. Annually, on October 1st, coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons, the Hon’ble President of India presents these awards at a grand ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Overview of the Scheme

Managed by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment of the Government of India, the “Vayoshreshtha Samman” aims to honor distinguished senior citizens and organizations that have made significant contributions towards the welfare of the elderly, particularly those in need. Each year, the awards celebrate remarkable achievements across multiple categories, with a total of 15 awards presented, including both individual and institutional recognitions. The awards comprise a Certificate, a Memento, and a cash prize.

Award Categories

The awards are categorized into two main sections: Institutional and Individual categories:

• Institutional Category:
  • Best Institution for Research in Ageing
  • Best Institution for Providing Services to Senior Citizens and Awareness Generation
  • Best District Panchayat in Providing Services and Facilities to Senior Citizens
  • Best Urban Local Body in Providing Services and Facilities to Senior Citizens
  • Best State in Implementing the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
  • Best Private Sector Organization Promoting the Welfare of Senior Citizens
  • Best Public Sector Organization Promoting the Welfare of Senior Citizens
• Individual Category:
  • Centenarian
  • Iconic Mother
  • Lifetime Achievement
  • Creative Art
  • Sports and Adventure (one male and one female)
  • Courage & Bravery (one male and one female)

Award Benefits

Each award recipient is honored with a Citation, a Memento, and a substantial cash prize of ₹10,00,000.

Award Presentation Ceremony

The award ceremony takes place annually on October 1st in New Delhi, coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons. The Hon’ble President of India or the Prime Minister of India is responsible for presenting these awards. The Central Government covers the boarding and lodging expenses for the awardees, including one companion per awardee. Additionally, travel expenses for up to one day before and after the ceremony are reimbursed, with allowances matching that of a Joint Secretary to the Government of India.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the award, nominees must meet the following criteria:

• For the Nominee:
  • Demonstrated exemplary contributions in health, counseling, legal aid, awareness, and programs supporting the elderly.
  • Played a significant role in empowering senior citizens at the village level.
  • Exhibited outstanding involvement of the local community in promoting elderly welfare.
  • Promoted a barrier-free environment in public buildings within the panchayat area.
• For Nominating Agencies/Individuals:
  • Ministries or Departments of the Government of India and their autonomous organizations.
  • State Governments or Union Territory Administrations.
  • Past recipients of Padma Awards, Vayoshreshtha Samman, and other National Awards.
  • Members of the National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSrC).
  • Prominent Apex Chambers such as FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, and more.
  • Other authorized persons or institutions by the Ministry at any time.

Note: Nominations are open to all Indian institutions, organizations, and individuals without discrimination based on religion, race, sex, caste, or creed. Self-nominations are not permissible, and written recommendations from authorized individuals are required.

Application Process

The application process involves two main steps: registration and submission of the application.

• Registration:
  1. Authorized nominators should visit the National Awards Portal.
  2. Click on “Register” located at the top right of the homepage.
  3. Complete all mandatory fields on the Registration Page marked with a red asterisk.
  4. Accept the declaration by checking the appropriate boxes, fill in the Captcha Code, and click “Submit”. Credentials will be sent to the registered mobile number.
• Application:
  1. Return to the National Awards Portal and click “Login”.
  2. Use the provided credentials to log in. Select “Vayoshreshtha Samman – National Awards for Senior Citizens” from the list and click “Nominate / Apply Now”.
  3. Fill in all required fields in the online application form and click “Submit”.

Selection of Awardees

A Screening Committee established within the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will review nominations and shortlist candidates. The final awardees will be selected by a designated Selection Committee led by an Additional Secretary or Joint Secretary.