To encourage community Durga Puja organisers to make their pandals (temporary structures to house the deity) more accessible, several organizations have come together to institute an award.

The award has been jointly instituted by Forum for Durgotsab, the umbrella organization of community Durga Puja committees in the city, the Rotary Club of Calcutta Old City, and the NGO National Institute of Professionals, among others.

The collaborative effort aims to recognize and celebrate the pandals that excel in making their spaces accessible for those with physical limitations and older attendees.

Traditionally, awards for Durga Puja pandals have focused on decor, artwork, and visual elements. However, with the introduction of this new award, the criteria are evolving to encompass accessibility for all attendees, including physically challenged and elderly individuals.

In the Gariahat area of south Kolkata, there is an additional heartwarming initiative where the local TMC councillor of ward 100, Sudarshana Mukherjee, honored 100 elderly women from underprivileged backgrounds.

The initiative, aptly named 'Amar Durga Amar Maa,' is a promise to ensure that elderly women in the neighbourhood are not neglected.

As Kolkata's Durga Puja celebrations continue, these initiatives demonstrate the city's commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for all, fostering a sense of community and care for the elderly and differently-abled attendees.