New Delhi, 11 June, 2026: India's growing senior population can play a transformative role in bridging educational gaps while advancing healthy and purposeful ageing, policymakers, education experts, public health leaders and civil society representatives concluded at a national roundtable convened by HelpAge India and the Inspiring Seniors Foundation (ISF).
The roundtable, titled "Seniors as Tutors: A Model for Productive Ageing & Intergenerational Impact," spotlighted the Inspiring Tutors Programme, ISF's flagship initiative that connects retired professionals with school students for online academic support and mentorship.
The programme has already engaged more than 100 senior citizen tutors who have delivered over 3,700 online classes in English, Mathematics and Science, benefiting more than 200 middle-school students across eight partner schools.
The discussion comes amid rapid demographic change in India, with the number of citizens aged 60 and above expected to rise sharply in the coming decades. Participants described older adults as an underutilised national asset whose experience, skills and time can contribute meaningfully to social development.
"Retirement should not mean withdrawal from society," said Malti Jaswal, Founder, Inspiring Seniors Foundation. "Through the discussions, we spotlighted the Inspiring Tutors Programme as a scalable model for productive ageing, establishing our seniors as an essential national asset. Together, we have committed to the ambitious goal of reaching 10,000 senior volunteers teaching 100,000 students by 2030, transforming intergenerational engagement into lasting social impact."
Rohit Prasad, CEO, HelpAge India, stressed the importance of keeping older adults active. "We need to view ageing not as a decline, but as a growth. Seniors have a lot to contribute, they come with rich lived experiences and knowledge... We recently launched the 'AdvantAge60' initiative, which aims to tap into the elder potential & encourage active ageing. Together, we must create meaningful pathways for older persons to continue applying their lifelong learnings, wisdom, and expertise."
International ageing expert Prof. Philip O'Keefe, Centre for Population Ageing Research, Sydney, and former World Bank specialist, pointed to global evidence showing significant social and economic returns alongside improved wellbeing for both seniors and young people. Public health expert Dr. Nachiket Mor called for a broader ecosystem of engagement opportunities and stronger institutional partnerships.
Representing the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Sh. Ram Singh, Joint Director, noted that seniors can offer life skills and values alongside academics, citing the Government of India's Vidyanjali platform as a possible mechanism for wider participation.
Delivering the keynote, Sh. Amit Yadav, IAS, former Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, praised the programme and urged the use of technology to extend such interventions to rural and underserved communities.
Participants collectively endorsed greater investment in intergenerational programmes, setting the direction for volunteer-led networks with high social capital.
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