The Twilight and the Void, Punjab’s Elder Care Initiative, the National Neglect of the Aged, and the Unkept Promises of a Graying Nation
In January 2026, the Punjab government launched the “Sade Bujurg, Sada Maan” (Our Elders, Our Respect) campaign, a concerted effort to honor the state’s elderly and prioritize them in daily life. Punjab has the highest proportion of elderly people compared to any other state in India, and the campaign reflects a recognition that in the twilight of life, when the elderly are unable to fend for themselves, families and governments must step in. District-level medical camps are being organized, senior citizen cards are being issued, old-age pension forms are being filled out, and information about banking schemes for the elderly is being disseminated.
The accompanying analysis, drawn from a Punjabi editorial, praises this initiative while using it as a springboard to critique the broader national neglect of the elderly. The contrast is stark. While Punjab acts, the central government and other states largely fail. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the central government abolished rail travel concessions for the elderly—a small but symbolically significant benefit. Despite widespread demand, the concession has not been fully reinstated; it has only been partially implemented. In other countries, the elderly are prioritized in public places, and senior living homes are built for their shelter. In India, there is much talk but few comfortable old-age homes.
The law stipulates that cases involving the elderly should be resolved expeditiously in courts and treated sensitively by the police system. In reality, this does not happen. The National Crime Records Bureau reports that the highest number of crimes against the elderly occur in the national capital, Delhi. Cases are registered, but justice is slow. The elderly are victims not only of crime but of indifference.
The analysis points to a familiar bureaucratic evasion: the central government says elder care is the responsibility of the states; the states say the centre should act. Between these two stools, the elderly fall to the ground.
Punjab’s Initiative: A Model Worth Emulating
The Punjab government’s campaign deserves the praise it receives. It is concrete, action-oriented, and addresses multiple dimensions of elder welfare. Medical camps bring healthcare to those who may have difficulty accessing it. Senior citizen cards provide identification that can facilitate access to services and benefits. Pension forms are filled out, ensuring that eligible elders receive the financial support to which they are entitled. Information about banking schemes helps elders manage their finances and avoid exploitation.
The campaign’s name—”Our Elders, Our Respect”—is not merely rhetorical. It signals a cultural commitment, an assertion that the elderly are not a burden but a source of pride and wisdom. In a society undergoing rapid change, where traditional family structures are under strain, such affirmations matter.
But Punjab’s initiative also highlights by contrast what is missing elsewhere. If Punjab can organize district-level medical camps, why cannot other states? If Punjab can issue senior citizen cards, why cannot the rest of the country? The answer is not lack of resources but lack of political will.
The Rail Concession Controversy: A Symbol of Neglect
The abolition of rail travel concessions for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic was, in the grand scheme of things, a small measure. The concession was not large; the savings to the exchequer were modest. But as a symbol, it was devastating. It signaled that the elderly were expendable, that their needs could be sacrificed for fiscal convenience.
The fact that the concession has not been fully reinstated, despite widespread demand, compounds the insult. It suggests that the government does not see the elderly as a constituency worth courting, a group whose concerns merit attention. This is short-sighted as well as callous. India’s population is aging. The proportion of elderly will only increase. A government that ignores them now will face a much larger problem later.
The Crime Data: Elder Abuse in the National Capital
The National Crime Records Bureau data cited in the analysis is alarming. The highest number of crimes against the elderly occur in Delhi, the nation’s capital. This is not merely a statistical anomaly; it is an indictment of the systems that are supposed to protect the vulnerable.
Crimes against the elderly take many forms: physical assault, financial fraud, property disputes, neglect by family members. The elderly are targeted because they are perceived as weak, isolated, and unlikely to fight back. Perpetrators often assume that they can act with impunity, that the slow pace of justice will protect them.
The analysis notes that cases are registered but justice is slow. This is a problem that afflicts the entire criminal justice system, but it is particularly devastating for the elderly, who may not live to see justice done. Expedited procedures, special courts, and sensitized police are not luxuries; they are necessities.
The Bureaucratic Evasion: Centre vs States
The analysis’s observation about the bureaucratic finger-pointing between central and state governments is depressingly familiar. On issue after issue, the centre says it is the states’ responsibility, and the states say the centre should act. Meanwhile, the vulnerable fall through the cracks.
Elder care is a concurrent subject, meaning both centre and states have responsibility. This should be an opportunity for coordinated action, not an excuse for inaction. The centre could set minimum standards, provide funding, and coordinate best practices. States could implement programs tailored to local conditions. Instead, we get paralysis.
The result is a patchwork of initiatives, with some states like Punjab acting and others doing nothing. The elderly in Delhi, where crime rates are highest and the state government is perpetually at odds with the centre, are particularly disadvantaged.
The Cultural Dimension: From Joint Families to Nuclear Units
Underlying the policy failures is a deeper cultural shift. The traditional joint family, in which multiple generations lived together and the elderly were cared for by their children and grandchildren, is breaking down. Urbanization, migration, and the pressures of modern life are producing smaller, nuclear families. The elderly are increasingly left alone.
This is not necessarily a disaster; many elderly people value their independence and prefer to live on their own. But it requires that alternative systems of care be in place: accessible healthcare, social connections, protection from crime, financial security. These are precisely the systems that are lacking.
The analysis’s call for “comfortable old-age homes” is one response, but it is not the only one. Community-based care, where elderly people are supported in their own homes, is another. Day centres, meal programs, and social activities can combat isolation. The key is to provide choice and dignity.
Conclusion: From Words to Deeds
The analysis’s concluding observation—that there are many paper promises for the elderly but no real commitments—captures the essence of the problem. Policy documents are filled with noble sentiments. Laws exist. Schemes are announced. But implementation lags, and the elderly continue to suffer.
Punjab’s initiative is a ray of hope. It shows what can be done when a government decides to act. But one state cannot carry the burden alone. The elderly of Delhi, of Bihar, of Uttar Pradesh deserve the same attention.
The central government must end its evasion and accept its share of responsibility. It must restore the rail concession and consider other measures to ease the financial burden on the elderly. It must work with states to ensure that crimes against the elderly are investigated promptly and prosecuted effectively. It must fund research into best practices and disseminate them across the country.
Most of all, it must recognize that the elderly are not a problem to be managed but a resource to be valued. They have built the nation; they deserve to live their final years with dignity and respect. The twilight of their lives should not be a void.
Q&A Section
Q1: What is the Punjab government’s “Sade Bujurg, Sada Maan” campaign, and what specific measures does it include?
A1: The “Sade Bujurg, Sada Maan” (Our Elders, Our Respect) campaign is a Punjab government initiative launched in January 2026 to honor the state’s elderly and prioritize them in daily life. It includes organizing district-level medical camps to bring healthcare to elders who may have difficulty accessing it; issuing and distributing senior citizen cards to facilitate access to services and benefits; filling out old-age pension forms to ensure eligible elders receive financial support; and informing elders about senior citizen schemes offered by banks to help them manage finances and avoid exploitation. The campaign is particularly significant because Punjab has the highest proportion of elderly people of any Indian state, making elder care a pressing priority. The initiative is praised as a concrete, action-oriented model that addresses multiple dimensions of elder welfare.
Q2: What does the analysis identify as the central government’s failure regarding rail travel concessions for the elderly?
A2: The analysis notes that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the central government abolished rail travel concessions for the elderly, a small but symbolically significant benefit. Despite widespread demand for reinstatement, the concession has not been fully restored; it has only been partially implemented. This is cited as an example of the broader national neglect of the elderly. The concession was modest, and the savings to the exchequer were minimal, but its abolition signaled that the elderly were expendable, their needs sacrificable for fiscal convenience. The failure to fully reinstate it compounds the insult, suggesting that the government does not see the elderly as a constituency worth courting. This short-sightedness ignores the fact that India’s population is aging and that a government that ignores the elderly now will face a much larger problem later.
Q3: What do the National Crime Records Bureau data reveal about crimes against the elderly, particularly in Delhi?
A3: The National Crime Records Bureau data cited in the analysis reveals that the highest number of crimes against the elderly occur in Delhi, the national capital. Crimes against the elderly take many forms: physical assault, financial fraud, property disputes, and neglect by family members. The elderly are targeted because they are perceived as weak, isolated, and unlikely to fight back. Perpetrators often assume impunity, knowing that the justice system is slow. The analysis notes that while cases are registered, the process of delivering justice is very slow. This is a problem afflicting the entire criminal justice system, but it is particularly devastating for the elderly, who may not live to see justice done. The data is an indictment of the systems meant to protect the vulnerable, especially in the nation’s capital where protection should be strongest.
Q4: How does the analysis characterize the bureaucratic evasion between central and state governments on elder care?
A4: The analysis characterizes it as a familiar finger-pointing exercise in which the central government says elder care is the responsibility of state governments, while state governments say the centre should act. Elder care is a concurrent subject, meaning both centre and states have responsibility, which should be an opportunity for coordinated action. Instead, it becomes an excuse for inaction. The centre could set minimum standards, provide funding, and coordinate best practices; states could implement programs tailored to local conditions. In reality, the result is paralysis and a patchwork of initiatives where some states like Punjab act and others do nothing. The analysis concludes that between these two stools, the elderly fall to the ground.
Q5: What cultural shift does the analysis identify as underlying the policy failures in elder care, and what alternative systems does it suggest are needed?
A5: The analysis identifies the breakdown of the traditional joint family as a key cultural shift underlying policy failures. The joint family, in which multiple generations lived together and the elderly were cared for by children and grandchildren, is giving way to smaller, nuclear families due to urbanization, migration, and modern life pressures. While many elderly value independence, this shift requires that alternative systems of care be in place: accessible healthcare, social connections, protection from crime, and financial security. The analysis suggests that “comfortable old-age homes” are one response, but not the only one. It calls for community-based care where elderly are supported in their own homes, as well as day centres, meal programs, and social activities to combat isolation. The key is to provide choice and dignity, recognizing that the elderly are not a problem to be managed but a resource to be valued. The twilight of their lives should not be a void.
