Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has become the first state in the country to establish a Commission for Senior Citizens, aimed at ensuring the welfare, protection, and rehabilitation of its elderly population.
The Commission, constituted under Section 3(1) of the Kerala State Senior Citizens Commission Act, 2025, will also work towards eliminating societal prejudices related to ageing, while leveraging the skills, experience, and innovative ideas of senior citizens for the benefit of society.
Kerala, which has one of the highest ageing populations in the country, is projected to have one-fourth of its people above 60 years of age by 2026. Against this backdrop, the new Commission is expected to frame comprehensive strategies to address the challenges of an ageing society.
The headquarters of the Commission will be located in Thiruvananthapuram. The Chairperson and members will serve a three-year tenure, with the Chairperson enjoying the status of a Government Secretary.
The Government will also appoint a Secretary not below the rank of Additional Secretary, a Registrar not below the rank of Joint Secretary in the Law Department, and a Finance Officer not below the rank of Deputy Secretary in the Finance Department.
Former Rajya Sabha MP and Kollam District Panchayat President K. Somaprasad has been appointed as the first Chairperson of the Commission.
State Social Justice Minister Dr. R Bindu said the government had placed social care for the elderly among its foremost priorities. “The Social Justice Department has been working with firm commitment to evolve timely policies and mechanisms to address the grave issues related to ageing,” she said.
The Minister added that the government is also ensuring accessible healthcare for the elderly and effective implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, besides providing institutional and policy support in all relevant areas.
