On 1 October, Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan highlighted the state’s Department of Senior Citizens, the first of its kind in the country, during the International Day of Older Persons.
In a post on X, Satheesan announced that the department, which was promised by the United Democratic Front during its assembly campaign, is now fully operational.
He said, “Good governance and care are not in words, but in deeds,” underscoring the government’s commitment to tangible action for the elderly.
State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala added on Facebook that age does not diminish a person’s importance, and that older citizens should be heard in family, society, and the economy, rather than seen merely as recipients of aid. He noted that the elderly are a valuable resource capable of learning and sharing experiences, and that their welfare is a responsibility shared across generations, aligning with the UN’s “Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives” vision. Let’s turn old age into a celebration.
