Kerala Launches India\'s First Elder-Friendly Office Certification Scheme

Kerala has launched an Elder-Friendly Office Certification scheme aimed at making public services easier and more accessible for senior citizens. The programme is designed to assess whether government offices and other public institutions are genuinely usable by elderly people.

The certification will examine several aspects of an institution, including physical accessibility, service delivery, staff behaviour, communication and opportunities for senior citizens to participate in the process.

Among the expected features are step-free access, toilets located on accessible floors, priority queues and designated officials who can assist elderly visitors. These measures are intended to reduce the difficulties senior citizens can face while accessing essential government services.

The scheme is particularly relevant to Kerala because the state has one of India's older population profiles. According to the Kerala government's communication cited by the Indian Express, people aged above 60 accounted for 16.5% of the state's population in 2021, with the share projected to rise further over the coming years.

The pilot programme will begin with 14 district offices before being expanded to more institutions. The initiative draws inspiration from international age-friendly frameworks, including the World Health Organization's age-friendly approach.

As populations age, accessibility becomes an increasingly important part of public administration. Features such as ramps, clear signage, priority services and trained staff can make government services easier to use without requiring major changes to the underlying service itself.

Source: Indian Express / Kerala Government communication