The National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, is launching a five-day geriatric care training programme in Diu district, beginning 9 October 2026. The programme aims to build the capacity of Anganwadi workers and frontline functionaries to provide basic care and support to senior citizens at the community level.
Around 50 participants, including Anganwadi workers and grassroots-level functionaries, will attend the training at Education Hub, Diu. Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Sudhansh Pant, will inaugurate the programme and administer a Pledge for Welfare of Senior Citizens to participants.
Key facts
- Five-day training programme starting 9 October 2026
- Location: Education Hub, Diu District
- Expected participants: Around 50 Anganwadi workers and frontline functionaries
- Inaugurated by: Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
- Coordinated by: Ms. Asha Sharma (Course Coordinator) and Ms. Ritu Dandriyal (Junior Consultant), NISD Senior Citizen Division
- Collector, Diu: Shri Rahul Dev Boora
- Director NISD: Shri Gaurav Singh Rajawat
What the programme covers
The training addresses the physical, psychological, emotional and social dimensions of ageing. Participants will learn about the ageing process, rights and dignity of older persons, and the roles of families, communities and frontline caregivers in supporting seniors.
Practical skills training includes assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), personal hygiene, nutrition, medication-related support, mobility assistance and safe transfer techniques. The curriculum also covers fall prevention, home safety, basic first aid and emergency response.
Mental health and psychosocial aspects form an important component, with sessions on communication skills, loneliness, social isolation, emotional well-being and dementia-aware caregiving. Participants will also learn to identify and report neglect, abuse and exploitation of seniors while reinforcing principles of privacy, dignity and compassionate care.
Strengthening community-based elderly care
The programme is designed to create a pool of trained, sensitised frontline workers who can provide basic geriatric care at the grassroots level. This is particularly important for senior citizens living alone, those requiring assistance with daily activities, and older persons with limited access to family-based care.
Participants will be equipped to identify early signs of health, mobility, cognitive and psychosocial concerns and facilitate appropriate referral to health services. They will also learn about Government schemes, programmes and institutional mechanisms available for senior citizens, enabling them to connect beneficiaries to relevant support and services.
Practical, field-oriented approach
The training adopts interactive methods including technical sessions, demonstrations, practical exercises, case studies and field-oriented examples. Group activities, experience-sharing and question-and-answer sessions allow participants to relate training inputs to their ground-level experience and develop practical responses to diverse needs of older persons.
The curriculum has been contextualised to address the specific circumstances of senior citizens in Diu District, with emphasis on strengthening locally available support systems. Practical exposure to basic caregiving techniques will enable participants to translate knowledge into effective community-level support.
Expected outcomes
The programme is expected to create approximately 50 trained and sensitised frontline functionaries in Diu District. Outcomes include improved capacity to provide basic care and support to older persons, better early identification of seniors requiring additional care or referral, enhanced awareness of Government schemes and support mechanisms, and strengthened community-level support for elderly persons living alone or with limited family assistance.
What this means for you
If you are an Anganwadi worker or grassroots-level functionary in Diu, this training will equip you with practical skills and knowledge to support senior citizens in your community. You will learn safe caregiving techniques, how to identify health concerns early, and how to connect seniors to Government benefits and services.
If you are a senior citizen in Diu District, this initiative aims to improve the availability of trained, compassionate support at the grassroots level. Better-trained frontline workers can help identify your care needs early, assist with daily activities, provide psychosocial support, and help you access Government schemes and services.