New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) Aiming to enhance safety, care, dignity and empowerment of senior citizens, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar on Friday launched “JEEVAN” (Joint Elderly Empowerment and Virtual Assistance Network) mobile application, an official said.

The Minister also unveiled “SHATAYU” (Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training For Your Utility) geriatric caregiver dashboard for enabling the elder Care Ecosystem through Technology Caregiving Support, the official said in a statement.

Virendra Kumar said the app and the dashboard are aimed at strengthening support systems for senior citizens across the country.

The JEEVAN mobile application is a dedicated digital platform designed to enhance the safety, welfare, healthcare access and social inclusion of senior citizens in India, said the statement.

The app provides a range of features aimed at addressing the needs and concerns of senior citizens, including information on Government schemes and welfare programmes, emergency assistance and support services, and details of senior citizen homes supported by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The platform has been designed with a user-friendly interface, simplified navigation and accessibility features, keeping in view the requirements of elderly users, said the statement.

Application SHATAYU, developed to support and strengthen caregiving services for senior citizens across the country, was also launched during the National Workshop on “Creating a Well-Functioning Care Economy.”

It provides features such as information on the availability of Geriatric Caregivers in a particular district and the State for the senior citizens, said the statement.

The platform has been designed with simplified functionalities and a user-friendly interface to ensure ease of access and effective service delivery.

The Ministry organised a virtual programme on “Creating a Well-Functioning Care Economy” featuring presentations on best practices in the care economy from various states.

Four key thematic areas were identified for in-depth discussions. Participants from Central Ministries/Departments, State/UTs, experts in the field and academia attended the workshop, where deliberations were held on key policy issues, implementation gaps, emerging initiatives, best practices, and actionable recommendations.

Social Justice and Empowerment Secretary Sudhansh Pant also addressed the participants.

Care Economy includes activities related to childcare, eldercare, disability support, health-related home care and domestic services. It includes unpaid care work predominantly performed by women within households and paid care work delivered through formal and informal markets.

–IANS

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