States » SouthPosted at: Oct 13 2026 7:52PM


Kerala’s new Bill proposes elderly database, care as a right and silver economy initiatives

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 13 (UNI) Kerala will work towards establishing a comprehensive care system for senior citizens, including a statewide database, ward-level support networks and professionally trained caregivers, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said in the State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
Presenting the Kerala Senior Citizens (Care and Protection of Rights) Bill, 2026, and moving a motion to refer it to the Subject Committee for consideration, he said the government aimed to ensure that no elderly person was left without food, medicines, healthcare or essential support.
The government intends to introduce caregiver training courses from the next academic year, drawing on curricula from the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany. An academic team will examine the available syllabi and finalise the course structure, Satheesan said.
Courses of six months or one year, followed by a one-year internship, are among the options under consideration. Training could be offered through government and private institutions across the state, creating a new pool of skilled caregivers and employment opportunities.
While families able to afford the service could engage trained caregivers, arrangements would be explored to support financially disadvantaged senior citizens through government assistance, local bodies and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, he said.
Highlighting Kerala's changing demographic profile, Satheesan said the state was witnessing a steady decline in its younger population because of falling birth rates, delayed marriages, changing family preferences and the migration of students and young people for education and employment.
At the same time, increasing life expectancy was contributing to a sharp rise in the elderly population. By 2036, the proportion of senior citizens in Kerala was projected to be twice the national average, he said.
Demographic changes should therefore become a key consideration in all future planning and policymaking, particularly as the state prepares for a society with a significantly larger elderly population.
Kerala was the first state in India to establish a dedicated department for senior citizens, fulfilling an election commitment through a decision taken at the first Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said.
The government plans to undertake a comprehensive data-collection exercise covering elderly people across Kerala, with particular attention to bedridden patients, people suffering from dementia and cancer, and those requiring palliative care.
Neighbourhood-level support mechanisms would be established in every ward by linking existing institutions and services, including local-body palliative care facilities. A broad volunteer network would help monitor senior citizens' well-being and ensure they received essential assistance.
Many elderly people were living alone or with their spouses as their children worked or settled elsewhere. Even when children sent money, there was often nobody available to check whether their parents had eaten, taken medicines or received necessary medical attention, Satheesan said.
The proposed system would help ensure regular attention to their daily needs and medical requirements, preventing vulnerable people from being left isolated.
The objective was to ensure that no senior citizen felt abandoned and that care and protection became a right rather than an act of charity, he said.
Satheesan said the proposed department should not be viewed merely as a welfare initiative. Alongside care and protection, the government wanted to develop a ‘silver economy’ by putting the knowledge, skills and professional experience of senior citizens to productive use.
Retired professionals could mentor young entrepreneurs, provide technical expertise and guide emerging businesses in marketing and management. The government could facilitate such arrangements and provide suitable honorariums in recognition of their contributions.
Their expertise could also help Kudumbashree units prepare projects, improve management and strengthen women-led enterprises towards financial self-reliance.
Referring to international experiences, the Chief Minister said the government had examined models from Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom to identify approaches that could be adapted to Kerala.
Japan's experience showed how the challenges associated with an ageing population could be converted into economic opportunities by enabling older people to continue contributing their knowledge and experience, he said.
Satheesan noted that experienced university teachers, researchers and other professionals could pass on their knowledge to younger generations instead of their expertise being lost after retirement.
The government would explore innovative programmes to connect such senior citizens with sectors where their experience could make a meaningful difference.
The proposed legislation seeks to combine social protection with economic participation, preparing Kerala for demographic changes while ensuring that senior citizens can live with dignity, security and continued engagement with society, he added.
UNI DS
Tags: #Kerala’s new Bill proposes elderly database# care as a right and silver economy initiatives
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