Punjab launches “Sade Buzurg Sada Maan” campaign for senior citizens with free medical camps, legal aid, and Old Age Home support in 2026.

The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is dedicated to ensuring the security, well-being, and respectable existence of older residents. At a press conference today at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh, Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women, and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, stated that the state-level campaign “Sade Buzurg Sada Maan” will begin on January 16, 2026, beginning in District SAS Nagar (Mohali).

According to Dr. Baljit Kaur, the Punjab government has been carrying out the “Sade Buzurg Sada Maan” campaign since 2023 in observance of the International Day of Older Persons, which is celebrated on October 1st each year. A total of 20,110 people registered for the camps in 2023, which included services including eye and ENT examinations, cataract surgery screening, glasses distribution, pension forms, Senior Citizen Cards, and Ayushman Cards.

She added that in keeping with this plan, district-based camps will be used to organize the campaign throughout the state once more in 2026. Free medical care, cataract procedures, geriatric examinations, ENT examinations, yoga classes, legal education, and other necessary services will be offered to older citizens at these camps.

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According to Dr. Baljit Kaur, Rs 786.83 lakh will be invested as part of the State Action Plan for Senior Citizens for the fiscal year 2025–2026. Free medical camps, dementia and NCD screening, geriatric caregiver training, and state-level media and awareness campaigns are all part of the strategy. To support older persons with their problems, a toll-free helpline number 14567 is also in operation.

She clarified that the Punjab government will spend almost Rs 24 crore on the welfare of senior citizens, including healthcare services, Old Age Homes, Day Care Centers, awareness campaigns, and other related activities. This shows the Mann government’s strong commitment to the welfare of the elderly.

According to Dr. Baljit Kaur, thousands of cases have already been decided by Maintenance Tribunals and Appellate Tribunals under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior persons Act, 2007, which established legislative safeguards to safeguard senior persons’ rights.

She added that day care centers in Barnala and Mansa will receive financial support of Rs 2.5 lakh each, while old age homes in 14 districts of the state will receive a grant of Rs 6.82 crore for the fiscal year 2025–2026. On this occasion, she also said that, under the capable direction of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, a government Old Age Home with 72 beds that was built in the Mansa district at a cost of Rs 9.12 crore will be launched on January 10, 2026.

Dr. Baljit Kaur concluded by urging older folks and their families to take advantage of the Punjab Government’s free amenities and actively engage in the district-level camps.