Overview

• October 1 marks the International Day of Older Persons, with the UN theme “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action” and a call from António Guterres to include their voices in policy.
• India’s Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is hosting a national program at New Delhi’s Dr Ambedkar International Centre featuring welfare initiatives for seniors.
• The government program includes MoUs with the Ministry of Defence (Defence Estates/Services), Telecommunications Consultants India Limited, and the Birla Open Minds Foundation.
• Officials will virtually inaugurate five senior citizen homes across Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, alongside releases that promote intergenerational bonding.
• Additional launches include Brahmakumaris songs, the Naitik Patam game, and a QR tool for grandparents‑teachers meetings, with recent steps such as the SAHAJ – Vridha Mitra Toolkit and the ‘Shrinkhala — HUM’ talks, while coverage shares caregiving tips and notes ageing projections rising from about 703 million in 2019 to roughly 1.5 billion by 2050.