Over 2.88 Lakh Senior Citizens Avail Care Services; 142 New Homes Sanctioned

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has stepped up its efforts to improve welfare, protection, healthcare and dignified living conditions for senior citizens across the country. The measures focus on widening institutional care, delivering essential services and making assistive living devices more accessible to the elderly.

According to Secretary Sudhansh Pant, more than 2.88 lakh senior citizens have received shelter, nutritious food, healthcare services, physiotherapy, recreation and other support facilities. These services are intended to address daily needs while promoting physical well-being and a better quality of life.

To expand institutional care infrastructure, 142 new Senior Citizen Homes have been sanctioned in different parts of the country. The additional facilities are expected to strengthen access to care and essential support for elderly persons.

In a push for independent living, 228 camps were organised, covering over 4.91 lakh beneficiaries. Around 23.93 lakh free assistive living devices were distributed, including wheelchairs, hearing aids, walking sticks and spectacles. These were provided to eligible senior citizens from Below Poverty Line categories and low-income groups, supporting mobility, communication and participation in everyday activities.

A Senior Citizen's Welfare Portal was also launched by the President of India as a one-stop platform for information dissemination, offering a common space to access details related to senior citizens' welfare.

The Ministry said these steps reinforce its commitment to supporting the elderly through accessible care, improved welfare infrastructure and assistance that helps them lead dignified and independent lives.