Hindustan Times ·
Keralam is India’s oldest state, and it's getting older: What its proposed elderly care law would do
Keralam's proposed elderly care law would regulate care homes and certify caregivers. Its 60-plus share in population is projected to reach 22.8% by 2036.
The Keralam government said on Tuesday it was drafting a law to regulate how the elderly are looked after in the state. This involves who may run an elderly care home, who is qualified to work in one, and what standards both must meet.
Chief minister VD Satheesan reviewed the draft Keralam State Elderly Persons (Care and Protection) Bill, 2026, along with a Policy for Elders, at a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday, and directed officials to complete the procedures at the earliest. He said afterwards that the government was committed to ensuring "statutory security, healthcare access, and a life of dignity" for senior citizens.
Neither the draft bill nor the policy has been published as yet. A look at what explains the state government's reasoning for such a law:
The state's Elderly Budget for 2026-27 prints the Registrar General of India's population projections, which may be among the key reasons for such a law.
In absolute terms, the state's 60-plus population roughly doubles between 2011 and 2036, from 4.2 million to 8.4 million. When seen against the country, the proportion of elderly people Keralam had in 2011 is the proportion India reaches around 2030. By this account, the state is running about two decades ahead of the country.