The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched SHATAYU (Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training for Your Utility), a digital initiative to strengthen India's geriatric care ecosystem. Launched on 22 May 2026 during the National Workshop on 'Creating a Well-Functioning Care Economy', this centralized national Geriatric Caregiver Dashboard and Directory currently features 30,151 trained caregivers across all States and Union Territories.
The platform serves as a digital interface connecting citizens with professionally trained geriatric caregivers, allowing users to search by geographical location (State/UT and district) and care specialization. The system includes OTP-based verification for callback requests, caregiver profile access, enrollment tracking, and a feedback and rating mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability. Services are available for both full-time and hourly caregiving requirements, with directory search and callback requests provided free of charge.
SHATAYU facilitates access to specialized caregiving services including general geriatric care, post-surgical care, dementia and Alzheimer's care, physiotherapy and mobility assistance, palliative care, and other elderly care requirements. The initiative recognizes four professional training categories: Geriatric Care Provider, Geriatric Caregiver (Institutional and Home Care), Wellness Therapist (Elderly), and Elderly Care Companion. These training tracks encompass competencies in holistic elderly care, physiological monitoring, emergency handling, bedside mobility, daily living assistance, therapeutic rehabilitation, cognitive engagement, emotional companionship, and social integration.
The training framework is supported by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the respective Ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The platform aims to create organized employment pathways for skilled caregivers while ensuring dignified, accessible, and dependable care for India's growing elderly population.