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Chhattisgarh to set up modern old-age homes, launches ‘siyan gudi’ for elderly care

Vishnu Deo Sai urged people to ensure that elders not only receive respect but also access to government welfare schemes.

Senior citizens were felicitated with shawls and shreephal. (Image: @vishnudsai/X)

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday announced a series of new initiatives for senior citizens, including modern old-age homes in four cities and a special facility called ‘Siyan Gudi’ dedicated to the care of the elderly.

Speaking at the state-level celebration of International Day of Older Persons at Indira Gandhi Agricultural University’s Krishi Mandapam in Raipur, Sai said senior citizens are “our guides and carriers of invaluable culture,” and caring for them is a shared duty of government and society.

As part of the announcements, the government will set up old-age homes under a public-private partnership (PPP) model in Raipur, Bilaspur, Korba and Durg, and establish a service centre in Raipur for repairing assistive devices used by persons with disabilities. The Chief Minister also flagged off 25 de-addiction awareness vans under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

वृद्धजनों का स्नेह और अनुभव समाज की अमूल्य धरोहर हैं। उनके मार्गदर्शन, अनुभव एवं संस्कार हमें जीवन की सही दिशा दिखाते हैं। उनकी सेवा व सम्मान से ही सच्ची खुशी और ईश्वर का आशीर्वाद प्राप्त होता है।

आज अंतर्राष्ट्रीय वृद्धजन दिवस पर वरिष्ठजनों को शॉल व श्रीफल भेंटकर सम्मानित किया।… pic.twitter.com/IxPuuuAEWb

— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) October 1, 2025

“My Guru has taught me that serving one’s parents is worshipping God. I have always followed the values and ideals of my Guru,” Sai said, urging people to ensure that elders not only receive respect but also access to government welfare schemes.

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Currently, more than 14 lakh senior citizens in Chhattisgarh are enrolled under pension schemes, and over 8 lakh have availed free medical care through Ayushman Bharat and the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Health Assistance Scheme. Around 50,000 have benefitted from the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana and Shri Ramlala Darshan Yojana.

Social Welfare Minister Laxmi Rajwade said 35 old-age homes are currently housing 1,049 residents, while palliative care facilities are running in six districts. She added that the department’s helpline has resolved over 54,000 issues raised by senior citizens.

The programme also featured cultural performances of Chhattisgarhi folk music and dance, and included a health camp. Senior citizens were felicitated with shawls and shreephal.

The event was attended by several ministers, MPs, MLAs and senior officials, including Social Welfare Minister Laxmi Rajwade, Minister Tankram Verma, MP Brijmohan Agrawal, and MLA Rajesh Munat.

Tourism push with EaseMyTrip

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In a parallel development, the state government signed an MoU with Ease My Trip under the Paryatan Sathi initiative to promote tourism and create jobs. Youth will be trained as professional tour guides at ITI Saddu, with each batch consisting of 50 trainees completing a three-month programme. Sai said the collaboration would “create new employment opportunities for youth and give a boost to Chhattisgarh’s tourism sector.”