Discuss the shift from a welfare to a participation-and-dignity approach in India's policy on senior citizens. What implementation challenges does a volunteer-driven model face?

India is ageing fast. The share of people aged 60+ is projected to rise from 10.5% (2022) to 20.8% (about 347 million) by 2050 [1]. Policy is responding by treating elders as contributors, not just dependants. The Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan (Nov 2026) under AVYAY shows this most clearly [2]. But a model run by volunteers carries its own delivery risks.

From welfare to participation and dignity

• Welfare base: the state gives pensions and shelter. IPSrC funds NGO-run Senior Citizen Homes (696 operational by Aug 2025) [3]. Here elders mainly receive help.
• Participation: the 5C model (Connect → Converse → Co-create → Contribute → Continue) brings elders into the activity itself. 'Silver Skills – Seniors as Mentors' puts their skills and experience to use [2].
• Dignity and fighting loneliness: Vayo SAATHI volunteers aged 18+ act as friends and connectors for seniors. Themes like '30 Minutes Together' target isolation [2].
• Community delivery: a Handbook sets out roles for States and Districts. NGOs, universities, RWAs and CSR partners mobilise the volunteers [2].

Implementation challenges

• Digital exclusion: volunteers sign up only through the SAMAVESH portal or JEEVAN app [2], and the government itself names technology barriers as a key problem for elders [3]. The 80+ group, mostly widowed, dependent women, is projected to grow about 279% by 2050 [1]. They are the hardest to reach.
• Urban skew: universities and RWAs are concentrated in cities, so villages may get few volunteers.
• Keeping volunteers: a certificate rewards signing up [2], but no measure has been published for the 'Continue' stage.
• Safety: volunteers help with digital tasks, but the published material describes no background verification.
• Weak follow-through: in 2014 a parliamentary committee had to urge faster rollout of a planned helpline and a working National Council for Senior Citizens [4]. Volunteers cannot make other departments act.
• Replacing state care: companionship cannot stand in for pensions, geriatric care or a care-home bed.

Way forward: use Panchayats to map homebound elders door to door. Route problems volunteers cannot solve to Elderline 14567 [5]. Measure repeat visits, not registrations. Verify volunteers through colleges, NGOs or Panchayats.

Taken together, the move to participation recognises elders as a resource, not a burden. Vayo SAATHI can make Article 41's promise of public assistance in old age more humane. It works only as an add-on to formal social security, built on intergenerational solidarity and the SDG pledge to leave no one behind.