MAY 02: President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, presided over a landmark event titled ‘Ageing with Dignity – Initiatives for the Welfare of Senior Citizens’ held at Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Centre. Organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the event saw the unveiling of several key welfare initiatives aimed at supporting India’s elderly population.
In her gracious presence, the Senior Citizen Welfare Portal was launched, streamlining access to services and benefits for older adults. The President also virtually inaugurated five new Senior Citizen Homes located in Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), Wokha (Nagaland), Vellore (Tamil Nadu), Anakapalli (Andhra Pradesh), and Nainital (Uttarakhand), reinforcing the government’s commitment to inclusive and dignified elder care.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Brahma Kumaris was also signed. This collaboration will promote mindfulness, spiritual well-being, and emotional resilience among both senior citizens and the youth, strengthening intergenerational harmony.
Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar highlighted the government’s sustained focus on empathy-driven policies for the elderly. He emphasized that “active ageing” involves not just physical health but emotional and community engagement. Ministers of State Dr. Ramdas Athawale and Shri B.L. Verma were also present.
An inspiring session was held with ‘Unsung Heroes’—elder citizens honored for their remarkable contributions to society in fields like education, history, social reform, and literature. Many of these contributors were Padma Awardees whose stories deeply moved the audience.
Adding further significance to the day, President Murmu distributed assistive devices under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) to support the mobility and health needs of indigent elderly citizens.
A special pledge ceremony involving students, officials, and attendees symbolized national solidarity with senior citizens and reinforced the values of empathy, care, and respect.
The event served as a strong reminder of India’s traditional values of reverence for elders and reaffirmed the country’s vision of a compassionate, inclusive, and elder-friendly society.
