Keralam elderly welfare: Govt sets up CM-led council to coordinate, monitor activities

The Keralam government has decided to set up a mechanism chaired by the Chief Minister for coordinating and monitoring the activities of departments and agencies related to elderly welfare.

The 14-member governing council will ensure the welfare of the elderly, their safety, health care, social participation, mental health, and financial security. It will also coordinate and monitor elderly welfare-related schemes and activities implemented by various government departments, local self-government institutions, agencies, and voluntary organisations.

The council has the Secretary of the Department for the Welfare of the Elderly as its convener, and the Secretaries of the Social Justice, Health and Family Welfare, Finance, Revenue, Local Self-government, Women and Child Development department, Home, Labour, and some other departments as members. It will also have the Secretary of the Kerala State Elderly Commission and the Director of the Department for the Welfare of the Elderly as members.

Experts in the field of elderly welfare can be included in the governing council if needed.

The Department for the Welfare of the Elderly will be the nodal department of the council. It should meet at least twice a year, according to a government order.

The main objective of the council is synchronisation of the State’s policies and schemes related to elderly.

Policy-level interventions

It will make policy-level interventions in areas such as elderly friendly society and health care, social security, silver economy, inter-generational relationships, and productive and active ageing.

The other responsibilities of the council include ensuring cooperation between various departments; formulating an integrated action plan and monitoring it; reviewing and analysing functioning of schemes and programmes and giving necessary recommendations.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan handles the portfolio of elderly welfare at present.