Giri Institute of Development Studies, Lucknow

The Giri Institute of Development Studies (GIDS), Lucknow, successfully organised a two-day National Seminar on "Ageing with Dignity: Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovations in Policy and Practices" from February 14 to 15, 2025. The seminar, sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), the Social Welfare Department, and the State Bank of India (SBI), provided an essential platform for discussing elderly welfare, policy innovations, and social security.
The seminar was inaugurated by the Honourable Minister Shri Aseem Arun (Minister of State for the Social Welfare Department), who emphasised the importance of bridging the gap between research and policymaking to enhance elderly welfare. He highlighted key government schemes, including the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana and the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, which focus on the well-being of senior citizens. Shri Aseem Arun also discussed global best practices and cited Denmark’s model, where there is no fixed retirement age for government employees, urging a policy debate on India’s retirement system. He further spoke on the 'Viksit Bharat by 2047' vision, stressing inclusive growth through 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'.
The seminar was held under the patronage and guidance of Prof. Sanjay Singh, Director of GIDS, and was expertly coordinated by Dr. Neetu Batra and convened by Dr. Animesh Roy. The Steering Committee, led by Dr. Prashant Kumar Trivedi, played a crucial role in the seminar, ensuring the smooth ex*****on of discussions and thematic sessions. The esteemed advisory committee of GIDS faculty members, including Dr. C. Senapati, Dr. K.S. Rao, Dr. Nomita P. Kumar, Dr. Kavita Balyan, Dr. Shilp Shikha Singh, and Dr. Manzoor Ali, made significant contributions by coordinating the sessions and maintaining decorum throughout the conference. The pillar of our institute's office staff, consultants, and project staff of the institute played an instrumental role in ensuring the seminar's success—from accommodation and certificates to food arrangements and rapporteur duties.
The event brought together distinguished academicians, policymakers, and researchers from across India. Prominent speakers on Day 1 included Prof. Udaya Shankar Mishra, Prof. Mala Kapur Shankardass, Prof. Bhaswati Das, Prof. Sanghamitra Acharya, Dr. Shrikant Srivastava, Ms. Anupama Dutta, Prof. Rajesh Mishra, Prof. Ajit Kumar Pandey, and Shri Rajeev Kapoor (Vice-Chairman, GIDS), who shared their insights on ageing policies and social welfare programmes. On Day 2, scholars such as Dr. R. Maruthakutti, Dr. C. Venkatachalam, Prof. A.K. Singh, Prof. A.K. Sharma, and Dr. A.K. Jain led discussions on elderly care models, policy frameworks, and social inclusion strategies. The seminar featured 11 insightful sessions, exploring the challenges faced by the elderly and innovative solutions to enhance their quality of life.
A significant moment at the seminar was the release of the documentary "Miles to Go Before I Sleep" by Dr Prashant Kumar Trivedi and his team, including Rishi Srivastava, Geeta Bisht, and Gayatri Das, commemorating 50 years of GIDS. Dr Rukmani Devi also released her book on the occasion entitled “Management Education Relevance in the 21st Century.” The event concluded on a high note, with a shared commitment to enhancing the lives of senior citizens through research-driven policies and innovative practices. A special thank you to ICSSR, the Social Welfare Department, and SBI for their support and to all speakers, advisory committee members, participants, and organisers for contributing to the seminar's grand success.
UP Samaj Kalyan State Bank of India