Puducherry: Madelaine de Blic, 81, who has spent most of her life in India and considers herself to be an Indian, is proud to have won the Padma Shri award for her work with the NGO called Volontariat."To receive a prize is something emotional, but to receive a prize from the place where I have been for over 50 years ­ India, which is my country, is very touching," said Madeleine."But more importantly I want my association for which I have given my life to continue and to be recognised by the government," she said.Some of the other awards that she has previously won include the Legion of Honour in 2013, Officier de la Couronne in 1995 and the Award of Doctor Schweitzer in 1970 (Albert Schweitzer was a famous doctor who helped lepers in Africa).Madelaine at first decided to dedicate one year of her life to work with the poor pe ple of Pondicherry, but that one year turned into over 50 years, in which she started her own NGO called Volontariat in which she and her husband, Arnaud, work to provide for the poor.Voluntariat is an NGO founded by Madelain de Blic (at that time Madelaine Herman) in 1962, which was registered as a non-profit and nonpolitical organisation in 1966.The aim of the NGO is to take care of the basic needs of the poor and handicapped people including gypsies and people suffering from leprosy."Earlier Pondicherry wasn't a very safe place for children, as there was a lot of child prostitution," said Madelaine. "We opened our doors for these children, and helped them with their education or employed them in our farms," she said.The Voluntariat Association is being sponsored by various European sponsor committees from France and Belgium. The organisation is also looking for sponsors in India.According to Madeleine, the most important part of a child's life is its mother. Therefore, at the orphanage of Volontariat, they have started a new practice by appointing a mother, or substitute partner to take care of a group of orphans so that they too can experience motherly love. The organisation also takes in old people who have nowhere else to go.