Kerala Government Announces Welfare Measures, Sets Up Dedicated Department For Senior Citizens

The Kerala Government has announced welfare reforms after coming to power. The newly elected Chief Minister Vadasseri Damodara Menon Satheesan announced a slew of welfare measures, including free bus rides for women and the formation of a dedicated department for senior citizens in the state.

The Minister held the first meeting of the new cabinet on the same day of the swearing-in ceremony, and immediately approved two schemes (Indira Guarantees), announced by Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi during the campaign.

The minister approved the implementation of free travel for women on the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses and the creation of a dedicated department for the elderly. The scheme, which is for women, is scheduled to start from June 15, 2026.

As Kerala’s demography is changing with a growing elderly population, which is expected to be over 18 per cent by the end of this year, the minister highlighted the need to establish a dedicated department for the elderly. On these lines, he added that the government will study to learn from the Japanese model for elderly care.

Further, to address the long-standing grievances, the cabinet also approved a Rs 3,000 monthly increase in the honorarium for ASHA workers. This increase will bring their total monthly remuneration to Rs 12,000.  

In addition to it, the payout has been increased for the other grassroots workers as well. The government announced a Rs 1,000 hike for pre-primary teachers, anganwadi workers, school cooking staff, and helpers.

While the CM announced these initiatives, considering the state’s finances in ‘dire straits’, he stressed that transparency regarding the state’s economy is a priority, and, as reported by PTI, said that the government plans to issue a white paper detailing the condition of the state exchequer.

The elderly population is growing across the country and is expected to surge to around 230 million by 2036, making up around 15 per cent of the total population. Few states have taken measures to address the situation and the issues of the elderly. For instance, the Tamil Nadu government had launched 25 day care centres for senior citizens in November 2025, for their community engagement and promoting active and fulfilling lives. In October 2025, the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), the Kerala government’s advisory body, launched the ‘Time Bank’ initiative for senior care, where volunteers can offer their time to support the elderly. They get credits in return for their time, which they can use when they need someone else’s time for care.

Similarly, in April 2025, the Department of Mass Education in Karnataka planned to work towards seniors’ digital literacy and decided to dedicate a chapter on digital literacy for seniors.