Key Highlights
- On 21 May 2026, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment introduced two digital tools – the JEEVAN mobile application and the SHATAYU Geriatric Caregiver Dashboard.
- Both platforms aim to streamline welfare scheme information, emergency response, health guidance and social inclusion for senior citizens.
- The SHATAYU portal aggregates caregiver profiles by district, helping families locate qualified support quickly.
- The launch was part of a national workshop on building a robust care economy, emphasizing technology‑driven elder care.
- These initiatives respond to India's rapidly ageing population and the consequent demand for coordinated, accessible services.
Detailed Insights
The Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar formally inaugurated the JEEVAN app, an acronym for Joint Elderly Empowerment & Virtual Assistance Network. Designed exclusively for older adults, the app consolidates multiple government services—such as scheme eligibility checks, a directory of state‑run senior homes, real‑time emergency assistance, curated health content, and tools that promote community participation—into a single, user‑friendly interface.
Concurrently, the SHATAYU Dashboard (Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training for Your Utility) was launched to reinforce India's burgeoning geriatric caregiving ecosystem. By mapping trained caregivers across states and districts, the portal enables seniors and their relatives to pinpoint qualified assistance efficiently. Its simplified navigation and searchable database are intended to reduce bureaucratic friction and accelerate care delivery.
Both solutions were presented at the "Creating a Well‑Functioning Care Economy" workshop, underlining the government's strategy to harness digital technology for elder‑care, home‑based health support, disability assistance, community caregiving, and domestic services. By bridging information gaps, the platforms are expected to enhance policy implementation, foster caregiver coordination, and encourage broader community involvement.
Key Concepts
- Care Economy: An ecosystem that integrates health, social, and domestic services to support the wellbeing of vulnerable populations, especially the elderly.
- Digital Inclusion: The process of ensuring all citizens, regardless of age or ability, can access and benefit from internet‑based resources.
- Caregiver Registry: A centralized, searchable database that lists qualified senior‑care professionals, facilitating rapid matching with service seekers.