Thu Jun 26 15:55:40 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Indian Union government, through the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has announced a call for proposals to establish new Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs) in 27 States and Union Territories. This initiative aims to strengthen support and resources for senior citizens as part of the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), anticipating a significant increase in the elderly population by 2047. The RRTCs will act as nodal agencies, overseeing senior citizen care activities, coordinating with state administrations, and providing training and awareness programs. The move comes as concerns are raised about the current RRTC system, where NGOs are managing vast jurisdictions, potentially hindering effective support. While some NGOs express challenges in handling multiple states, larger organizations claim adequate resources for wider coverage. The establishment of these new RRTCs aims to improve the implementation and monitoring of senior citizen care initiatives across the country.

**News Article:**

**India to Expand Senior Citizen Support Network with New Regional Centers**

*New Delhi, June 26, 2025* – The Union government announced today its intention to bolster support for India’s growing senior citizen population by establishing new Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs) in 27 States and Union Territories. A notification issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment calls for fresh proposals to set up these centers, which will serve as crucial hubs for all senior citizen care-related activities.

This initiative falls under the umbrella of the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens, a key component of the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY). The RRTCs will play a pivotal role in training, awareness programs, coordinating with state administrations, and monitoring senior citizen care activities within their designated regions. They will also assist states in developing State Action Plans for senior citizens.

The move is particularly timely as India anticipates a significant demographic shift, with projections indicating that 20% of the country’s population will be senior citizens by 2047.

Currently, the government supports 11 RRTCs nationwide, managed by NGOs overseeing multiple States/UTs. Concerns have emerged that some NGOs are struggling to effectively manage such extensive jurisdictions.

Dr. Abha Choudhary, head of Anugraha, an NGO currently managing six States/UTs, stated that the geographical area is vast and challenging to handle effectively.

However, larger organizations like HelpAge India maintain that they possess the necessary resources to operate RRTCs across multiple states.

The Ministry’s notification seeks to address these concerns by potentially distributing the workload and enhancing the effectiveness of senior citizen care initiatives nationwide. The newly established RRTCs will provide critical technical support to state governments, enabling them to better implement and monitor programs tailored to the needs of India’s aging population.

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