New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has invited citizens aged 18 years and above to register as volunteers under the Vayo SAATHI initiative which is aimed at strengthening intergenerational bonding and promoting the welfare and social inclusion of senior citizens.
The initiative is part of the recently launched Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan, a national intergenerational bonding campaign under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY).
Interested citizens, including students, young professionals and community volunteers, can register through the Senior Citizens Welfare (SCW) SAMAVESH portal or the JEEVAN (Joint Elderly Empowerment & Virtual Assistance Network) mobile application, the ministry said.
Under the initiative, registered volunteers will act as friends, facilitators and connectors for senior citizens, helping them access digital services, welfare-related information and community support. They will also receive a Vayo SAATHI certificate in recognition of their participation.
The term 'SAATHI' stands for support, awareness, assistance, training, health and inclusion.
The initiative also seeks to promote digital literacy, awareness about cyber fraud, health and wellness, and greater social participation among older persons.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Virendra Kumar, recently launched the campaign in the national capital. It aims to strengthen intergenerational solidarity by bringing together the experience, wisdom and knowledge of senior citizens with the energy and capabilities of younger generations.
The campaign is based on the '5C' model -- Connect, Converse, Co-create, Contribute and Continue -- which seeks to establish sustained engagement between generations through community platforms and educational institutions.
It encompasses 12 thematic areas, including '30 Minutes Together', 'Teach Me' - 'I'll Teach You', 'My Story, My India', 'Digital Dada-Dadi / Digital Saathi', 'Generation Health & Wellness' and 'Silver Skills - Seniors as Mentors'.
These themes aim to promote companionship, preserve oral histories, enhance digital literacy, create awareness about cyber fraud and recognise senior citizens as mentors and valuable contributors to society.
The campaign seeks to reach every village and neighbourhood through Panchayats, local bodies, educational institutions and community institutions. It encourages families, youth organisations, universities, NGOs, resident welfare associations and corporate social responsibility partners to participate and mobilise volunteers.
The ministry has also released a handbook outlining the campaign's objectives, implementation strategy, thematic activities and the roles of states, districts and community institutions.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)