Overview

• India’s Department of Social Justice and Empowerment marked October 1 with MoUs with Defence Estates/Services, TCIL and Birla Open Minds, and virtually inaugurated five senior homes across Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
• The New Delhi event also released two Brahma Kumaris songs, launched the Naitik Patam intergenerational game and a grandparents–teachers QR tool, and followed the September 23 release of the SAHAJ (Vridha Mitra) toolkit.
• UN Secretary‑General António Guterres urged that older persons’ voices shape policies to end age discrimination under the theme, “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well Being and Our Rights.”
• The South African Police Service in the Northern Cape joined the observance, reaffirmed its mandate under the Older Persons Act, and urged the public to report abuse via Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or the MySAPS app.
• Demographic data show rapid ageing, with the global 60+ population more than doubling since 1995 to about 1.2 billion and projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, as regional commentary and media highlight welfare gaps and practical caregiving guidance.