Niti Aayog set to unveil plan for elderly care

A high-level inter-ministerial panel headed by NITI Aayog member VK Paul will soon unveil an action plan for holistic care of India's ageing population, in line with international best practices, a senior government official aware of the deliberations told ET.

Some of the policy interventions on the cards include a dedicated nutrition programme for senior citizens, mandatory savings plan, comprehensive health insurance, old-age housing, affordable high-quality assistive devices, enhanced pension coverage and revision in pension amount to account for inflation, the official said.

One in every five Indians is projected to be above 60 years of age by the middle of the century. It is estimated that 75% of the elderly have one or more chronic diseases, over 50% experience mobility restrictions, 32% have low life satisfaction, 78% are without any pension cover while 70% are dependent on everyday maintenance, prompting the government to look at comprehensive measures.


The move is in line with the BJP's poll promise of 2024 wherein the party's manifesto touched upon the need for elderly care in the wake of major societal change to ensure overall support to India's ageing population.

"The policy roadmap will focus on health, social, economic and digital empowerment of the elderly and will see a series of reforms proposed across these four pillars," the official said.

The policy prescription could suggest enhanced engagement of the private sector, funding from corporate social responsibility (CSR) and inter-sectoral convergence.

The policy could also propose legal reforms for strengthening the existing Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen Act for greater accountability while also mooting housing sector reforms to develop dedicated housing facilities for the elderly.