Union Secretary MoSJE Shri Sudhansh Pant inaugurates Five-Day Geriatric Care Training Programme In the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Union Secretary MoSJE Shri Sudhansh Pant inaugurates Five-Day Geriatric Care Training Programme In the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu Programme To Build Capacity Of Anganwadi Workers, Frontline Functionaries In Geriatric Care, Early Identification Of Care Needs And Referral Support To Strengthen Community-Based Support For Senior Citizens

Posted On: 09 OCT 2026 3:59PM by PIB Delhi Union Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment, Shri Sudhansh Pant inaugurated the Five-Day Geriatric Care Training Programme, at Education Hub at Kevdi Diu, in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu (DNH&DD), here today.

The Programme is being organized by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, in collaboration with the Office of the Collector, Diu, Union Territory Administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNH&DD).

Joint Secretaries of the Ministry Dr Sandeep R Rathod, Shri Sajeesh Kumar N and Director NISD, Shri Gaurav Singh Rajawat, also attended the inaugural session. The Collector, Diu, Shri Rahul Dev Boora, formally welcomed the dignitaries and participants.Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pant said the initiative seeks to create a pool of trained, sensitised and locally available frontline functionaries capable of providing basic geriatric care, identifying emerging care requirements, facilitating access to appropriate Government schemes and services, and extending emotional and psychosocial support to senior citizens at the community level.He said the training has been suitably contextualized to address the specific needs and circumstances of senior citizens in Diu District, with a focus on strengthening locally available support systems.

The Secretary said the programme assumes particular significance in view of the evolving needs of an ageing population, including senior citizens living alone, those requiring assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and older persons with limited access to family-based care.

Shri Pant added that the training will adopt a practical, participatory and field-oriented approach, enabling participants to translate the knowledge and skills acquired into effective support within their respective communities.The Secretary Pant said the 5 day training training will provide participants with an understanding of the physical, psychological, emotional and social dimensions of ageing, while equipping them with practical competencies for safe, dignified and compassionate care of older persons.

The Union Secretary said the programme is expected to create a pool of approximately 50 trained and sensitized Anganwadi Workers, frontline workers and grassroots-level functionaries in Diu District and enhance their capacity to provide basic care and support to older persons.

He said it is expected to improve the early identification of senior citizens requiring additional care or referral, strengthen awareness of Government schemes and support mechanisms, and improve community-level support for elderly persons living alone or with limited family support.Shri Pant said this Programme represents a focused capacity-building intervention to strengthen the local ecosystem of elderly care in Diu District. He said by developing a locally available pool of trained and sensitized personnel, the initiative seeks to promote a more responsive, inclusive and supportive environment for senior citizens and contribute towards their dignity, safety, independence, social inclusion and quality of life.

The Secretary further said the Programme is aimed at strengthening community-based support systems for senior citizens and enhancing the capacity of personnel engaged in last-mile service delivery.Key areas will include the ageing process and changing needs of senior citizens; rights, dignity and well-being of older persons; roles of families, communities and frontline caregivers; principles of basic geriatric care; assistance with routine activities and ADLs;

personal hygiene; nutrition and hydration; medication-related support; mobility assistance; safe transfer techniques; fall prevention and home safety.

The programme will also cover basic first aid and response to common emergencies, communication skills, psychosocial support, loneliness and social isolation, emotional well- being, and dementia awareness and basic caregiving approaches.

During the programme special emphasis will be placed on the prevention, identification and reporting of neglect, abuse and exploitation of senior citizens, while reinforcing the principles of privacy, dignity, respect and compassionate care.

The participants will also be oriented to Government schemes, programmes, institutional mechanisms and support services available for senior citizens, enabling them to facilitate timely access to relevant benefits and services.The programme will combine technical sessions, interactive lectures, demonstrations, practical exercises, case studies and field-oriented examples. Group activities, experience- sharing and question-and-answer sessions will provide participants an opportunity to relate the training inputs to their field experience and develop practical responses to the diverse needs of older persons.

Practical exposure to basic caregiving techniques will form an important component of the programme, with emphasis on translating knowledge into effective community-level support.

The collaboration between the NISD, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, and the Union Territory Administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, through the Office of the Collector, Diu, reflects a coordinated approach towards strengthening geriatric care and community-based support mechanisms at the grassroots level.

Shri Pant later administered the Pledge for Welfare of Senior Citizens to the participants.Ms. Asha Sharma, Course Coordinator, and Ms. Ritu Dandriyal, Junior Consultant, from the Senior Citizen Division of NISD, are conducting the programme.

The Deputy Director (Training) & Head, Senior Citizen Division, NISD, is coordinating the programme in consultation with the Office of the Collector, Diu, and other concerned stakeholders for effective academic, administrative and logistical arrangements.It is pertinent to mention that at the Ministry level, the NISD has been undertaking capacity-building and training programmes in geriatric care and related areas as part of its continuing efforts to strengthen the availability of trained human resources for the care, welfare and protection of senior citizens.

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