The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) and Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on November 16 to implement senior citizen welfare schemes under the Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY) in Cantonment Boards across India. The signing ceremony will be witnessed by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Social Justice Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, with attendance from Secretary Sudhansh Pant and DG Shobha Gupta.
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation between the two organizations, leveraging Cantonment Boards' infrastructure and administrative network with DoSJE's scheme support, financial assistance, and technical expertise. The partnership will establish new Day Care Centres for senior citizens in Cantonment Boards under AVYAY, while strengthening existing facilities with departmental support. Financial assistance will be provided for Senior Citizen Homes with 25/50-bed residential capacity where feasible, aiming to strengthen institutional care facilities and expand access to residential support.
A key component involves skill training for youth as geriatric caregivers through the Department's training partners, creating a trained workforce for elderly care while generating livelihood opportunities. The initiative includes administering pledges to students of Cantonment Board schools and organizing intergenerational activities to promote bonding. Awareness camps will disseminate information about senior citizen welfare schemes, mobilizing public representatives, social workers, and local communities.
The MoU builds on the Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan national campaign on intergenerational bonding launched on November 4, 2026. The collaboration addresses India's demographic shift where the population aged 60 years and above is projected to increase from approximately 10 crore in 2011 to around 23 crore by 2036. With changing family structures and increasing urbanization, the partnership aims to provide community-based facilities like Day Care Centres and access to trained caregivers close to home for Cantonment area residents.
AVYAY serves as the umbrella scheme for senior citizen welfare, including Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens, Senior Citizen Homes, Geriatric Caregiver Training, National Helpline for Senior Citizens (Elderline – 14567), and Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana. The initiative represents a Whole-Of-Government approach to enable senior citizens to lead dignified, secure, and self-reliant lives through strengthened institutional support and expanded community-based care facilities.