The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) conference on India Towards Viksit Bharat @ 2047 was recently conducted at Jamia Hamdard University, concentrating on the serious issue of social security for India’s ageing population. The conference convened prominent academicians, policymakers, and thought leaders to share strategies for the financial and social welfare of aging citizens. Speakers at the event emphasized that a truly developed country is not one measured by economic growth but by social equity, where aging citizens are not regarded as a burden but as assets to society.

Given the rapid ageing of India’s population, the focus of the conference was on the need for a rights-based approach to geriatric care, leading to financial independence, access to quality health care, and community-based care systems. The event dovetailed with India’s broader vision for 2047 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Experts and researchers exchanged best practices for the whole world and suggestions to enhance the quality of life of elderly citizens through policy changes and technological advancements.

There were several technical sessions on vital themes, which were social security and financial inclusion, healthcare and well-being, policy and governance, and community-based social support. Researchers also showcased research papers on AI-based healthcare solutions for the elderly population, age-friendly urban design, economic resilience of elderly women, and community initiatives by NGOs for social integration. All these papers are likely to play an important part in framing policies to enhance the economic and social security of India’s elderly population.

Jamia Hamdard Vice-Chancellor Prof M Afshar Alam also laid the tone for the conference by saying that real development transcends economic achievements and has to guarantee social equality for everyone. He underscored that a Viksit Bharat will be judged in the long run by the dignity and security it gives to its vulnerable groups, especially senior citizens. He urged an alliance of government bodies, NGOs, and academia to create sustainable policies that leave no citizen behind.

One of the main organizers of the conference, Prof Dr Reshma Nasreen, emphasized the need to bolster social security mechanisms in order to cater to India’s elderly population. Financial security, easy access to health care, and mental well-being were the key areas emphasized by her as part of ensuring the elderly a decent life. Of special focus were the elderly residents of marginalized slums and rural communities where financial deprivation and limitations in access to healthcare pose extra challenges. Dr Nasreen emphasized that the path to 2047 should be inclusive so that the older citizens are not only passive recipients but also active contributors to society.

The event also saw a distinguished panel of speakers, which included Prof A Venkat Raman, Dean of FMS, University of Delhi, Ritu Rana, Mission Head of Healthcare at HelpAge India, and Prachi Kaul, Director of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute. The keynote speaker was Prof Syed Ahsan Jamil, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Dhofar University, Oman, who gave insights into world ageing trends and policy paradigms that could be emulated by India.

Throughout the conference, specialists reiterated the notion that ageing ought not to be perceived as a crisis but rather as a chance to embrace aged citizens into the social and economic life of the country. Exchange of ideas revolved around boosting economic literacy among seniors, widening pension plans, enhancing geriatric healthcare centers, and promoting intergenerational solidarity. The application of digital technology in elderly care was also investigated, and researchers identified AI-driven healthcare models that could be used to give remote medical services to older adults, particularly rural communities.

Community-based support programs were the other key area of concern. Specialists pointed out that communities, families, and NGOs should collaborate to establish a support system where the elderly citizens are able to live their lives to the fullest. Successful models from various regions of the world were shared through case studies, which provided suggestions on how India can develop an inclusive and age-friendly society.

As the conference came to an end, there was a consensus that research needs to be converted into implementable policies, and those policies need to result in real improvements in the lives of India’s aging population. Prof Afshar Alam ended the conference with an appeal to all stakeholders to see that the observations and suggestions presented at the conference are effectively implemented. He stressed that the conference has effectively set in place a proper roadmap to 2047 but that the test now is the execution.

The conference represented an important milestone in the country’s efforts to address the challenge of its elderly population, and it brought leaders and policymakers together to collaborate in creating a more inclusive and sustainable future. Going forward on India’s path towards Viksit Bharat, its elderly citizens’ well-being will be an essential indicator of how far it will have come.