Udupi: Ravindranath Shanbhag, president of the Human Rights Protection Foundation (HRPF), said that he would not accept the Rajyotsava Award as a mark of protest against the “lackadaisical implementation” of the Maintenance and Protection of Senior Citizens Act in the State.

Addressing the media, Shanbhag said that many senior citizens who approached him for seeking help through the HRPF have not received much help.

He said that the 23 senior citizens who approached the HRPF for help, eight have passed away while waiting for the implementation of tribunal orders passed in their favour. “I have approached the Ministers and bureaucrats, but nothing is happening on this front,” he said.

He said that he has not received any official invitation for receiving the award. When they officially invite me, I will ask them about the lack of action on the Maintenance and Protection of Senior Citizens Act.