Centre Launches ‘Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan’ to Strengthen Intergenerational Bonding

New Delhi, November 5: Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar on Thursday launched the ‘Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan’, a National Intergenerational Bonding Campaign, under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) in New Delhi. The initiative aims to strengthen relationships between younger and older generations while promoting the dignity, welfare and social inclusion of senior citizens.

 

 

During the programme, the Minister also released the campaign handbook and launched the ‘Vayo SAATHI’ volunteer initiative to encourage citizens to support senior citizens through community participation.

 

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Kumar described the campaign as an ‘Anubhav aur Urja ka Sangam’, bringing together the experience of senior citizens and the energy of younger generations. He noted that India's population aged 60 years and above is projected to increase from approximately 10 crore in 2011 to 23 crore by 2036.

 

He highlighted that urbanisation, migration and changing family structures have reduced interactions between generations, contributing to loneliness, limited awareness of welfare schemes and vulnerability to cyber fraud among elderly people.

 

Emphasising mutual learning, he said, “The youth will connect our elders to the digital world and our elders will give the youth the values of life.”

 

 

 

On the eve of Deepawali, the Minister urged citizens to ensure that no elderly person in their homes or neighbourhoods remains alone and encouraged them to light a diya in their honour. He added that spending time with senior citizens or accompanying them to medical appointments could make a meaningful difference.

 

The campaign will follow a ‘5C’ model – Connect, Converse, Co-create, Contribute and Continue – to establish sustained engagement between generations. It will cover 12 thematic areas, including ‘30 Minutes Together’, ‘Teach Me – I'll Teach You’, ‘My Story, My India’, ‘Digital Dada-Dadi / Digital Saathi’, ‘Generation Health & Wellness’ and ‘Silver Skills – Seniors as Mentors’.

 

The Vayo SAATHI initiative, meaning Support, Awareness, Assistance, Training, Health and Inclusion, is open to citizens aged 18 years and above. Volunteers can register through the SCW SAMAVESH Portal or JEEVAN App and receive a certificate.

 

Two MoUs were also signed with Shri Ram Chandra Mission and Adhyatma Vigyan Satsang Kendra, Jodhpur, to promote meditation, yoga, wellness programmes and intergenerational activities.

 

Secretary of the Ministry, Sudhansh Pant, said the initiative recognises senior citizens as active contributors, mentors and repositories of knowledge and experience.