Kerala, with its advanced demographic transition, has one of the highest proportions of elderly population in India, with over 16% of its residents aged 60 and above. The state’s notable achievements in healthcare, literacy, and life expectancy have contributed to rapid population ageing, posing distinct social and policy challenges. Despite having relatively better health infrastructure and social awareness compared to other states, the elderly in Kerala often face issues such as isolation, inadequate long-term care, and increasing dependency—particularly among women and those in rural areas. Traditional family-based support systems are under strain due to large-scale outmigration and shifting social structures, resulting in a growing need for institutional care and community-based support mechanisms. Although the state has introduced various welfare schemes for senior citizens, including pensions and palliative care programmes, experts stress the importance of a more holistic, compassionate, and rights-based approach—one that ensures not merely survival but dignity, inclusion, and quality of life for the ageing population. It is in this context that the workshop held at Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) assumes significance.
“We should not merely add years to life, but add life to years,” remarked Prof. S. Irudaya Rajan, setting the tone for a compelling discussion on the intersecting challenges of migration and ageing in Kerala. He was delivering the keynote address at the workshop on “Migration and Ageing in Kerala,” organized by the Inter-University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension (IUCSSRE) in association with the K.R. Narayanan Chair for Human Rights and Social Justice, Mahatma Gandhi University. The event was held at the IUCSSRE.
Prof. Rajan, Chair of the International Institute of Migration and Development and former Professor at the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), highlighted the profound demographic shifts unfolding in Kerala. While the state continues to lead in human development indicators, he observed that it has not yet fully addressed the social consequences of large-scale migration alongside an ageing population. The elderly, he noted, face multiple levels of challenges—from loneliness and neglect to inadequate care infrastructure—that are often overlooked in policy discourses.
His address critically examined the erosion of traditional caregiving systems as a direct consequence of migration, with many older parents left behind in villages and small towns while younger generations move abroad or to urban centres. Prof. Rajan emphasized that older persons should not be viewed as passive dependents or social burdens. Rather, their active engagement through community-based initiatives and participation in society could unlock what he termed the “silver demographic dividend” and the potential of the “silver economy.” He called for a reimagining of elderly care—not just in terms of medical support but through innovative living arrangements, elder-friendly infrastructure, and inclusive social policies. While acknowledging Kerala’s progress in social development, Prof. Rajan cautioned against complacency, warning that emerging vulnerabilities must be addressed with urgency. “We must think beyond statistics. We need to humanize policy—make it compassionate and forward-looking,” he noted.
Stressing the need for a compassionate, inclusive, and rights-based framework, Prof. Rajan reiterated that ageing is not merely a medical or social concern but a matter of dignity and human rights. He urged society to move beyond charity-based models and focus on empowering older persons through robust social protection, accessible healthcare, emotional support, and intergenerational solidarity. Loneliness, neglect, and social invisibility, he emphasized, remain among the gravest concerns confronting the elderly today, demanding a shift in both policy orientation and public attitudes.
The session was chaired by Rafeek Ravuther, Executive Director of the Centre for Indian Migration Studies, who underscored the need to make migration and welfare policies more inclusive and elder-sensitive. He emphasized that older persons must be placed at the centre of development planning and that existing programmes should be restructured to address their evolving needs.
Other speakers included Prof. K.M. Seethi, Dr. Rajesh Komath, Prof. V. Mathew Kurian, Dr. Jose Naduthotty, Dr. Dinoop, and Fr. Renny Thomas. Participants called for a multi-sectoral, community-based approach that links ageing with migration, healthcare, social protection, and human rights. The discussions highlighted that Kerala’s experience offers valuable insights for other states and countries grappling with similar demographic transitions.
The workshop concluded with a collective call to action: to respond effectively to the challenges of ageing in the context of migration, Kerala must adopt innovative, inclusive, and research-driven strategies. The deliberations reaffirmed the need for policies that not only care for the elderly but also recognize, engage, and empower them as integral members of a transforming society.
