Breaking up of the joint family has left the elderly socially isolated. Examine the role of intergenerational programmes in addressing this.

India's 60+ population was about 10 crore in 2011 and is projected to reach 23 crore by 2036 [1]. Urbanisation and migration are breaking up joint families. As a result, many elderly people live alone, lose daily contact with family and are more exposed to neglect and fraud. Intergenerational programmes can rebuild these ties, but they cannot do it alone.

How joint-family decline isolates the elderly

• Children moving away leave parents in "empty nests". This brings loneliness, low awareness of welfare schemes and exposure to cyber fraud [2].
• Abuse: about 5.2% of older people surveyed in LASI Wave-I reported ill-treatment [3].

Role of intergenerational programmes

• Restoring contact: MoSJE's Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan (2026, under AVYAY) uses a "5C" model (Connect → Converse → Co-create → Contribute → Continue). Its themes include "30 Minutes Together" [2].
• Seniors as mentors: themes like "Silver Skills" and "Teach Me – I'll Teach You" treat elders as holders of knowledge rather than dependants, which restores their dignity [2].
• Digital inclusion: "Digital Dada-Dadi" teaches digital literacy and how to spot cyber fraud [2].
• Reducing ageism: the UN-WHO Global Report on Ageism (2021) names intergenerational contact as one of three proven strategies against ageism [4].
• Early warning: Vayo SAATHI volunteers (aged 18+) may be the first outsiders to notice neglect [2].

Limitations

• Weak evidence on loneliness: WHO still lists finding out "what works" as a research gap [5].
• No referral backbone: only 482 of 700+ districts had a care home for the elderly [6], and Maintenance Tribunals under the 2007 Act have been set up unevenly [7].
• Digital-first registration through the JEEVAN App may leave out rural seniors, the very old and widowed women [2].
• Tokenism: one-off festival events will not build lasting bonds.

Way forward

• Connect Vayo SAATHI volunteers to Elderline 14567 so that any abuse they see is reported and acted on [3].
• Set up a care home in every district and staff the tribunals properly, as the Standing Committee recommended [6].
• Design programmes using WHO's Connecting Generations (2023) guide, and measure results such as loneliness and scheme uptake [8].
• Let Panchayats register seniors and volunteers offline.

Intergenerational programmes can bring back the everyday contact that joint families once provided, reduce ageism and bring hidden distress to light. If they are backed by tribunals, care homes and pensions under the State's Article 41 duty, they can deliver the campaign's vision of "Anubhav aur Urja ka Sangam" and help people age with dignity [2].