Keynote Address by Mr. Amit Yadav
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presence of Dr. P.K. Paul, who has been working in a much broader space. This is a very limited centre, but his span is much bigger. He is always full of ideas, full of energy, and he is a person who is rooted to the ground.
At this stage, Mr. Karan Mukherjee is here, Mr. Rana Reddy is here. All of them, and we have heard some of them, have spoken with regard to what is happening in the senior living sector — what is happening in ageing. Presently, with the presence of roughly 160 million elderly people, what we are looking at is more than double of that in the coming decades.
That is increasing, and we are looking at various aspects. One of the aspects is what ASLI is representing. ASLI is representing the senior living, senior care part — one part of that. But it is a bigger spectrum we are looking at, and some of those aspects were also touched upon by Mr. Rana.
The healthcare sector, as has been rightly pointed out, is central. With advances in science and technology, longevity has gone up. People live longer, but with it come challenges. Technology, medicine, and interventions help, but different people face different situations. Healthcare must address those diverse needs.
It is not only physical; it is also mental and emotional. As we age, challenges multiply. Beyond healthcare, there is also the economic dimension. You may still be productive, physically and mentally active, even after retirement. How do you contribute to society? This is what we call the “silver economy” — knowledge, wisdom, experience — all of which need to be channelled better.
We need to create support systems and ecosystems to connect people. Many just want to feel useful, not merely to learn but also to contribute. That requires linking them with those who need such services — consulting, mentoring, tutoring. There are many ways beyond simply sitting at home.
Another major issue is loneliness. How do we tackle loneliness? How do we create proper areas and safe spaces — whether in senior living facilities, day-care centres, or community hubs — where people can interact, talk, and feel included? Loneliness is a serious challenge, especially in urban areas with nuclear families. Social inclusion must be part of policy.
Safety and security are equally important — not just cyber and financial security, but also physical safety, especially when the elderly are alone. These aspects must be addressed.
Government policies will play a role, but much has to come from the private sector, from society, and from citizens themselves. Rural perspectives differ from urban ones. In villages, access and affordability are challenges. In urban areas, affordability of advanced healthcare is equally an issue.
The government has already expanded health insurance coverage, and if I am not mistaken, more than a crore people have benefitted. But beyond that, assisted living and senior care require more work. Advocacy is important, but regulation is equally critical. The sector must practise self-regulation to maintain standards; otherwise, external regulation will follow. Issues such as land allocation, subsidised housing, healthcare manpower, and professional training need solutions.
Manpower planning is crucial. We are working through the National Institute of Social Defence, where skilling, reskilling, and upskilling are priorities. Infrastructure and accessibility, especially in urban areas, are also big challenges.
Another important dimension is women. Women live longer than men, so elderly women face greater financial and social challenges. This must be addressed.
Healthy ageing is another focus. Healthy ageing does not start at 60; it starts much earlier. Lifestyle, exercise, and habits developed earlier in life determine how well we age. It must also be part of our culture and sensibility — younger generations must learn to respect and bond with elders, to understand their needs. At some point, each of us will become a senior citizen.
Government interventions like senior citizen homes, assistive devices, and schemes exist, but they are limited and cover only thousands. Devices are provided at subsidised costs, but only for those under income thresholds. Civil society and the private sector must do more to build the silver economy.
Ultimately, ageing is a reality across all sections of society. We must all be part of the solution — by being compassionate, caring, and committed to ensuring dignity, inclusion, and security for our elderly citizens.
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