# Cantonment boards to get elder day-care centres, homes: MoU on 16 November

URL: https://kasba.co.in/en/story/cantonment-boards-to-get-elder-day-care-centres-homes-mou-on
Language: en · Section: Schemes · Published: 2026-11-14
Source: PIB, "देशभर के छावनी बोर्डों में वरिष्ठ नागरिक कल्याण योजनाओं के विस्तार के लिए सामाजिक न्याय और अधिकारिता विभाग तथा रक्षा संपदा महानिदेशालय के बीच समझौता ज्ञापन पर हस्ताक्षर होंगे", 2026-11-14, https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2336310

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Directorate General of Defence Estates will sign a memorandum of understanding in New Delhi on 16 November. It aims to bring Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana elder-welfare services to senior citizens living in cantonment board areas across the country.

## What this means for you

This matters to elderly people living in cantonment board areas and to their families. For now it is only a signing of an agreement; the notice gives no application date or procedure. Details of new centres are expected to come through cantonment boards and awareness camps. Elderline-14567 is the national helpline for senior citizens under the scheme.

## Key facts

- MoU to be signed in New Delhi on 16 November
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar will be present
- Financial support for residential senior citizen homes of 25 to 50 beds, as needed
- New day-care centres in cantonment boards; existing ones to be strengthened
- Youth to get skill training as caregivers for the elderly
- About 10 crore people aged 60+ in 2011, projected to reach about 23 crore by 2036

## What has happened

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and the Directorate General of Defence Estates under the Ministry of Defence will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in New Delhi on 16 November. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar will be present.

The aim is to create a framework of cooperation between the two organisations for implementing senior citizen welfare schemes under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) in cantonment boards across the country.

## Who benefits

Under the partnership, the infrastructure and administrative network of cantonment boards will be used, while the department will provide financial assistance and technical expertise for the schemes. This is expected to give senior citizens in cantonment areas access to care, support and a life of dignity.

According to N. Sajeesh Kumar, Joint Secretary in the ministry, financial support will also be provided for residential senior citizen homes of 25 to 50 beds, as needed. This is meant to strengthen institutional care facilities for the elderly.

## What changes

New day-care centres and other facilities for senior citizens will be set up in cantonment boards under the MoU. Day-care centres already run by cantonment boards will also be strengthened with the department's support.

Another key part is training young people as caregivers for the elderly. Skill training will be given through the department's training and partner organisations, which is expected to build a trained caregiving workforce and create new employment opportunities for youth.

## Awareness camps too

Awareness camps will be held to inform senior citizens about the ministry's welfare schemes, with participation from public representatives, leading social workers and local communities. Students in cantonment board schools will take a pledge, and activities will be held to encourage dialogue between young people and senior citizens.

## Why this is being done

According to the release, about 10 crore people in India were aged 60 or above in 2011, and this number is projected to reach about 23 crore by 2036. Changing family structures and growing urbanisation are making day-care centres near home and trained caregivers more important.

The MoU also takes forward the 'Vayo Samman National Campaign', a national drive launched by the ministry on 4 November 2026 to strengthen ties between generations.

## What is the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana

It is the department's main scheme for the welfare of senior citizens, aimed at helping them live healthy, empowered, dignified and self-reliant lives. Its components include an integrated programme for senior citizens, senior citizen homes, training for elderly care, the national helpline Elderline-14567, the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana and other initiatives that promote active and healthy ageing.

## Questions and answers

**When will day-care centres open in cantonment boards?**
No date has been announced. The MoU is to be signed on 16 November, after which new centres are to be set up under the scheme.

**Do I need to apply for this?**
No. The notice does not give any application process or deadline; it only describes a cooperation agreement between two departments.

**How many beds will the senior citizen homes have?**
Financial support will be given for residential senior citizen homes of 25 to 50 beds, as needed.

**What is the helpline number for senior citizens?**
Elderline-14567 is the national helpline for senior citizens and is part of the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana.

**What do young people get from this?**
Youth will be given skill training in caring for the elderly, which is expected to open new employment opportunities for them.

Kasba Desk, Kasba. This routine notice was drafted with AI from an official source and published automatically; an editor reviews it after publishing.