Keralam Care for Senior Citizens: Government sets up a board headed by the CM to coordinate and monitor the activities

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The Kerala government has decided to set up a mechanism chaired by the Chief Minister to coordinate and monitor the activities of the departments and agencies related to the welfare of the elderly.

The 14-member board of directors will ensure the well-being of seniors, their safety, health care, social participation, mental health and financial security. It will also coordinate and monitor programs and activities related to the welfare of the elderly implemented by various ministries, local government institutions, agencies and voluntary organizations.

The Council has the Secretary of the Department of Elderly Care as its convener and the members are the Secretaries of the Department of Social Justice, Health and Family Welfare, Finance, Revenue, Local Government, Department of Women and Child Development, Home, Labor and some other departments. The Secretary of the Kerala State Senior Citizens Commission and the Director of the Department of Senior Citizens will also be members.

If necessary, aged care professionals may be included on the board.

The department for the care of the elderly will be the nodal department of the council. According to government regulations, it should meet at least twice a year.

The main objective of the council is to synchronize state policies and schemes relating to senior citizens.

Interventions at the policy level

It will carry out interventions at the policy level in areas such as an age-friendly society and health care, social security, the silver economy, intergenerational relations and productive and active ageing.

Other responsibilities of the council include ensuring cooperation between various departments; formulation of an integrated action plan and its monitoring; reviewing and analyzing the functioning of schemes and programs and making necessary recommendations.

Chief Minister VD Satheesan is currently handling the senior care portfolio.

Published – 15 Sep 2026 13:48 IST