Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar to Launch 'Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan', a National Intergenerational Bonding Campaign Under Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, in New Delhi

Key facts

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will launch the 'Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan' – National Intergenerational Bonding Campaign under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), with Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar formally launching it in the National Capital.
• The campaign is structured around a '5C' model – Connect, Converse, Co-create, Contribute and Continue – and will be implemented across twelve 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'.
• A key launch component is Vayo SAATHI (Support, Awareness, Assistance, Training, Health and Inclusion), a digitally enabled volunteer initiative open to all citizens aged 18 years and above, with registration through the Senior Citizens Welfare (SCW) SAMAVESH Portal or the JEEVAN App and a Vayo SAATHI Certificate for registered volunteers.
• The Union Minister will also release a Handbook detailing the campaign's objectives, implementation framework, thematic activities and the roles of States, Districts and community institutions.
• The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment will sign two MoUs with Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) and Adhyatma Vigyan Satsang Kendra (AVSK), Jodhpur, to promote senior citizens' wellbeing through meditation, yoga, wellness programmes, pledge drives and walkathons.
• India's population aged 60 years and above is projected to grow from approximately 10 crore in 2011 to 23 crore by 2036, with its share in the total population rising from 8.4 per cent to 14.9 per cent.