The 5th Meeting of the National Council for Senior Citizens was held under the chairmanship of Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by Secretary Shri Sudhansh Pant, Joint Secretary Smt Monali P Dhakate, council members, representatives of central ministries/departments, state governments, experts, NGOs, and senior citizen organizations to deliberate on key policy issues concerning welfare, healthcare, and empowerment of senior citizens.
Dr. Virendra Kumar reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring every senior citizen leads a life of dignity, security, good health, and active participation in society, emphasizing that senior citizen welfare is integral to the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision. The council conducted a comprehensive review of Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) implementation, assessing outreach, effectiveness, and impact.
The council deliberated on the implementation of extending health insurance coverage under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to all senior citizens aged 60 years and above, providing health coverage irrespective of financial background. Additionally, the council discussed the proposal for inclusion of Geriatric Caregivers services in the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rate card.
The meeting reviewed action taken on decisions from the 4th National Council meeting and considered various suggestions and recommendations from non-official members, states, and line ministries on issues relating to social security, institutional care, active ageing, capacity building, and community participation for enhancing senior citizens' quality of life.
Dr. Virendra Kumar launched "SNEHA – Stories of Nurturing, Engagement, Happiness & Active Ageing," an e-book showcasing major programs, initiatives, and achievements of the Department for senior citizen welfare from October 2024 to June 2026 (a 21-month period). The e-book highlights the ministry's efforts toward promoting healthy ageing, fostering active participation in nation-building activities, and outreach with the theme of Ageing with Dignity.
The council appreciated the launch of two flagship digital initiatives: JEEVAN (Joint Elderly Empowerment & Virtual Assistance Network) App, providing senior citizens and families with seamless access to welfare schemes through a mobile platform, and SHATAYU (Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training for Your Utility), a digital platform for availing services of trained geriatric caregivers emphasizing Ageing at place principle. The meeting concluded with a pledge to strengthen inter-ministerial convergence, leverage digital technologies for improved governance and service delivery, and promote healthy, active, and dignified ageing for senior citizens nationwide.