India, April 30 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Taking a significant step towards strengthening inclusive rural development , the Ministry of Rural Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) with HelpAge India to strengthen the care and well-being of senior citizens under the Food, Nutrition, Health and Sanitation (FNHW) framework of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission ( DAY - NRLM ) .
The MoU was signed by Shri T.K. Anil Kumar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Shri Rohit Prasad, Chief Executive Officer, HelpAge India , in the presence of senior officials and state representatives from Bihar , Chhattisgarh , Himachal Pradesh , Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu.
Additional Secretary Shri T.K. Anil Kumar stated that a holistic , community-based, and converged approach is essential to address challenges related to senior citizens. He emphasized the development of accessible , sustainable, and dignified community care models, as recommended by NITI Aayog, and called for learning from the experiences of states.
Joint Secretary Smt. Swati Sharma said that this initiative will also strengthen the "Lakhpati Didi" campaign , because only healthy and capable women can play a leading role in economic progress.
Mr. Rohit Prasad, CEO of HelpAge India, said that the number of senior citizens in India , especially in rural areas , is continuously increasing and they face many challenges such as health , nutrition , mobility, and social isolation. He said that HelpAge India 's experience and the extensive SHG network of DAY-NRLM can play a vital role in addressing these challenges.
Deputy Secretary Dr. Monica stated that the efforts being made under FNHW are yielding positive results. Self-help groups have significantly increased awareness and behavior change regarding food , nutrition , health, and hygiene, and in this vein, the care of senior citizens is also being prioritized.
Under DAY-NRLM, community-based solutions for senior citizens will be developed through a broad network of self-help groups and community organizations. Senior citizen self-help groups (SHGs) currently active under social inclusion provide a strong foundation for this initiative.
This initiative will focus on co-developing a national strategy for senior care within the FNHW framework. This will include strategy development , capacity building , training modules, and resources for implementation.
In the initial phase, pilot projects will be implemented in Bihar , Chhattisgarh , Himachal Pradesh , Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu , based on which a scalable model will be developed.
This initiative is expected to transform senior citizens into active contributors rather than dependents , improve their access to pensions , healthcare and other entitlements, and reduce social isolation.
This initiative is an important step towards the goal of "Developed India 2047" , in which every senior citizen will be ensured the opportunity to live a life with dignity , security and inclusion.
Disclaimer: The original story of this translated version is available on Press Information Bureau.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
