Content

1. Elderly in India
2. Farmer’s Welfare: Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (ICCVAI)

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Elderly in India

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Definition and Demographic Overview

• Definition: As per National Policy on Older Persons (1999), “elderly” = persons aged 60 years and above.
• 2011 Census: ~104 million elderly (8.6% of total population).
• 2036 Projection (TGPP 2020): ~230 million (≈15% of total population).
• 2050 Projection (LASI 2021): ~319 million (≈20% of population).
• Growth Rate: Annual increase of ~3%.
• Sex Ratio: 1,065 females per 1,000 males (elderly women = 58% of total elderly).
• Dependency Ratio: 62 dependents per 100 working-age persons.

Relevance

• GS-1 (Society & Population): Demographic transition, ageing trends, regional disparities, and gendered ageing patterns.
• GS-2 (Governance & Welfare): Legal protection (Maintenance & Welfare Act, 2007), constitutional duties (Art. 41), and welfare schemes (AVYAY, IGNOAPS, NPHCE).
• GS-3 (Economy): “Silver economy” as an emerging growth sector; pension sustainability and fiscal implications of ageing.

Regional Demographic Patterns

• High elderly concentration: Southern States (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh) + Himachal Pradesh + Punjab.
• Kerala: Elderly share to rise from 13% (2011) → 23% (2036) (highest in India).
• Uttar Pradesh: From 7% (2011) → 12% (2036) (younger demographic).
• Implication: Regional disparities in aging to widen, mirroring developed-country trends in the South.

Drivers of Ageing

• Declining fertility rate (below replacement in several states).
• Rising life expectancy due to better nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation.
• Declining mortality and urbanisation leading to longer lifespans.

Key Challenges Faced by the Elderly

Health

• Non-communicable diseases, dementia, Alzheimer’s, disabilities.
• Lack of geriatric infrastructure and rural health services.
• Mental health stigma and limited long-term care facilities.

Economic

• Low pension coverage (unorganised sector ~90% workforce).
• Inflation and medical costs exceeding savings.
• Inadequate old-age income security mechanisms.

Social

• Erosion of joint families; rising neglect and isolation.
• Increase in single and widowed elderly women (54% widows among elderly women).

Digital Divide

• Barriers to accessing e-services, healthcare, and entitlements.
• Need for digital literacy programs for older citizens.

Infrastructure

• Public spaces and transport not elderly-friendly.
• Absence of ramps, railings, accessible washrooms in urban design.

Legal and Policy Framework

Constitutional Basis

• Article 41: Duty of State to provide assistance to the aged.
• Directive under Article 46: Protection of weaker sections.

Key Legislations

1. Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
   1. Legally binds children/heirs to provide maintenance to parents.
   1. Establishes maintenance tribunals and old-age homes.
2. Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019
   1. Broadens “children” (includes step/adoptive/in-law).
   1. Removes ₹10,000 ceiling on maintenance.
   1. Mandates “life of dignity” standard.
   1. Ensures geriatric care, hospital priority, homecare, police nodal officers.

Institutional Framework

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE).
• Collaborating Ministries: Health & Family Welfare, Finance, AYUSH, Rural Development, etc.
• Support Mechanisms: Panchayati Raj Institutions, NGOs, CSOs, private sector.

Major Government Schemes for Elderly

Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

• Launch: 2015; age 18–40 yrs; guaranteed pension ₹1,000–₹5,000/month after 60.
• Subscribers: 8.27 crore (as of Oct 2025).
• AUM: ₹49,000 crore+.
• Government guarantees shortfall if returns fall below assured pension.

Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)

• Umbrella scheme for elderly welfare and empowerment.
• Components: IPSrC, RVY, SAGE, SACRED, Elderline, Geriatric Care Training.

Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)

• Financial aid to NGOs/States for old age homes, mobile medicare units, physiotherapy clinics.
• 696 homes operational; 84 new homes (2025–26) sanctioned.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)

• Free assistive devices for BPL elderly or income ≤₹15,000/month.
• Devices via ALIMCO; doorstep delivery for 80+ seniors.

Elderline (Helpline 14567)

• Toll-free national helpline for grievances, emotional support, and guidance.
• Operational since 1 October 2021.

Senior Care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) Portal

• Encourages start-ups in elderly care sector.
• Equity support: up to ₹1 crore/project via IFCI (Govt stake ≤49%).
• Promotes “silver economy” innovation.

SACRED Portal

• Launched: 1 October 2021.
• Job-matching portal for senior citizens (60+).
• Facilitates re-employment with dignity.

Geriatric Caregivers Training

• Trains professionals for elderly care (clinical + non-clinical).
• 32 institutes empanelled (2023–24); 36,785 trained.

Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY

• ₹5 lakh annual coverage for secondary/tertiary healthcare.
• Expansion (2024): Free treatment for 6 crore senior citizens (70+).
• 40 lakh elderly enrolled (as of Jan 2025).

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)

• Under NSAP; ₹200/month (60–79 yrs), ₹500/month (80+ yrs).
• 2.21 crore beneficiaries (Oct 2025).

National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE)

• Since 2010–11; comprehensive healthcare at all levels.
• Covers all 713 districts; geriatric wards, OPDs, physiotherapy.

Senior Citizens Welfare Fund (SCWF)

• Formed under Finance Act, 2015.
• Financed by unclaimed EPF, PPF, insurance, small savings.
• Managed by MoSJE for elderly welfare schemes.

Role of Technology

• Telemedicine (NPHCE, e-Sanjeevani): Remote consultations for homebound/rural elderly.
• Wearables: Health monitoring, fall detection, emergency alerts.
• Online Pharmacies & Smart Homes: Medication access, remote safety monitoring.
• Senior Citizens Welfare Portal: Single-window access to schemes and services.

Social and Community Support

• Family support: Primary care system; eroding due to migration & nuclearisation.
• Intergenerational initiatives: NAITIK PATAM (2025) game to foster family bonding and moral education.
• Community models: Senior clubs, volunteer networks, and PRIs-led outreach.

Housing and Urban Design

• Model Guidelines for Development and Regulation of Retirement Homes, 2019:
  • Promotes age-friendly, accessible housing.
  • Encourages private participation in elder housing.

Emerging Concept: “Silver Economy”

• Definition: Economic ecosystem catering to goods and services for the 50+ demographic.
• Market size: ₹73,000 crore (2024); rapid growth expected.
• Opportunity: Elderly = wealthiest global age cohort; promotes entrepreneurship and employment in eldercare, wellness, and technology.

Policy Priorities and Way Forward

• Recognise Senior Care as a specialised regulated sector.
• Enhance public-private collaboration for service delivery.
• Integrate geriatric health, social protection, housing, and digital access.
• Strengthen inter-ministerial convergence and state-level monitoring.
• Develop evaluation frameworks for policy effectiveness.
• Leverage PRIs, ULBs, NGOs, and start-ups for localised elderly welfare.

Summary

• Demographic Dividend → Dependency Challenge: India’s ageing curve demands a shift from youth-centric welfare to lifelong welfare.
• Gendered Ageing: Feminisation of old age calls for gender-sensitive pension, health, and safety measures.
• Economic Repercussions: Labour force contraction, pension load, and healthcare demand intensification.
• Policy Imperative: Shift from welfare-based to rights-based, participatory ageing framework.

Conclusion

India’s ageing population presents both a challenge and an economic opportunity.
To harness the potential of the “Silver Generation”, India must ensure:

• Inclusive health and social security.
• Productive engagement and re-employment opportunities.
• Technology-enabled independence and dignity.
  A robust ecosystem driven by policy convergence, innovation, and compassion will ensure that ageing in India remains not a burden—but a dividend.

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Farmer’s Welfare: Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (ICCVAI)

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Context & Background

• Post-harvest losses: Estimated 4.6–15.9% for major crops (ICAR-NCCD, 2020), especially perishables.
• Objective: Build a seamless cold chain from farm gate to consumer to reduce losses, raise farmer incomes, and stabilize food supply.
• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
• Umbrella Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).
• Restructured: 2016–17; earlier existed as standalone Cold Chain Scheme.

Relevance

• GS-2 (Governance & Welfare): Farmer welfare, institutional mechanisms, convergence under PMKSY.
• GS-3 (Economy, Agriculture & Infrastructure): Agri-logistics, post-harvest management, cold chain technology, food processing industry.
• GS-3 (Science & Tech): Food irradiation, IoT, AI, and renewable energy in agriculture.
• GS-3 (Employment): Rural job creation through processing and logistics sectors.

Objectives

• Create integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure.
• Link farm-level units to distribution hubs and retail points.
• Reduce wastage and improve farmer price realization.
• Promote value addition and diversification in perishables.
• Enhance employment generation and export competitiveness.

Key Components (as per 22 May 2025 guidelines)

• Farm Level Infrastructure (FLI): Pre-cooling, grading, primary processing.
• Distribution Hub (DH): Cold stores, ripening chambers, sorting/packing units.
• Refrigerated/Insulated Transport: Reefer trucks, milk tankers, fish containers.
• Technology Integration: Temperature & humidity control, traceability systems.

Eligible Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs)

• Individuals including farmers.
• FPOs/FPCs, SHGs, Cooperatives, NGOs.
• Private Companies, Firms, PSUs, Corporations.
• Applications invited through Expressions of Interest (EOIs).
• No State NOC required, but coordination encouraged.

Complementary Schemes

• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH):
  • Cold storage up to 5,000 MT; subsidy 35% (General), 50% (NE, Hilly, Scheduled Areas).
• Operation Greens (TOP to TOTAL):
  • Stabilises Tomato, Onion, Potato (later expanded to other perishables and shrimp).
  • Focuses on integrated value chains & price stabilization.
• National Horticulture Board (NHB):
  • Subsidy 35–50% for cold storage (5,000–20,000 MT).
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF):
  • ₹1 lakh crore corpus, collateral-free loans up to ₹2 crore.
  • 3% interest subvention on term loans.

Financial Assistance Structure

• Grant/Subsidy:
  • 35% of eligible project cost (General areas).
  • 50% for Difficult areas / SC-ST / FPO / SHG projects.
  • Max assistance: ₹10 crore/project.
• Difficult Areas: NE States, J&K, Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand, ITDP areas, Islands.
• Budget:
  • PMKSY total outlay (2025): ₹6,520 crore (up from ₹4,600 crore).
  • Includes ₹1,000 crore for 50 multi-product food irradiation units.

Achievements (as of June 2025)

• 395 projects approved since inception (2008).
• 291 operational →
  • Preservation capacity: 25.52 LMT/year.
  • Processing capacity: 114.66 LMT/year.
  • Employment: 1.74 lakh jobs generated.
• Post-2016 acceleration: ₹1,535.63 crore released for 269 projects.

Key Policy Updates

• June 2022:
  • Fruits & vegetables removed; shifted to Operation Greens for targeted intervention.
• August 2024:
  • Added Food Irradiation Units (ionising radiation for shelf-life extension).
• May 2025:
  • New operational guidelines → stronger farm-to-consumer linkages, emphasis on non-horticulture perishables.

Evaluation & Impact

• NABCONS 2020 Study:
  • Significant reduction in wastage for Fruits, Vegetables, Dairy, Fisheries.
  • Improved market access and farmgate prices.
• Promotes income diversification, price stabilization, and food security.
• Supports Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat by strengthening agri-logistics.

Technological Integration

• IoT-enabled cold storage monitoring.
• AI-based logistics optimization.
• Energy-efficient refrigeration systems.
• Blockchain traceability for supply chain transparency.

Challenges

• High capital & operating costs.
• Limited skilled manpower for cold chain maintenance.
• Power reliability issues in rural areas.
• Need for cluster-based approach to ensure viability.

Way Forward

• Develop PPP-based cold chain clusters near production belts.
• Integrate with e-NAM, FPO networks, and export corridors.
• Promote renewable-powered cold storage (solar-based).
• Encourage skill training in refrigeration & logistics.
• Establish national-level digital dashboard for real-time cold chain data.

Conclusion

• ICCVAI exemplifies adaptive and technology-driven agricultural governance.
• Transition from storage-centric to value-chain centric design ensures both farmer welfare and consumer stability.
• With policy convergence under PMKSY and funding expansion, India is moving toward a resilient, climate-smart, and value-added agri-economy.