Social Justice Ministry launches Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan to build ties between the young and the old

4 November 2026

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has started a national campaign called Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan. Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar launched it in the national capital. The campaign sits under the ministry's umbrella scheme for the elderly, Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY). It is built on a 5C model — Connect, Converse, Co-create, Contribute and Continue — and runs across twelve thematic areas, among them '30 Minutes Together', 'Teach Me - I'll Teach You' and 'Digital Dada-Dadi'. A volunteer wing named Vayo SAATHI is open to anyone aged 18 and above, who can sign up through the SCW SAMAVESH Portal or the JEEVAN App. Two agreements were exchanged, with Shri Ram Chandra Mission and with Adhyatma Vigyan Satsang Kendra, Jodhpur, for meditation, yoga and wellness work with older people. The ministry notes that India's population aged 60 and above is expected to rise from about 10 crore in 2011 to 23 crore by 2036.