New Delhi: HelpAge India marked International Day of Older Persons 2025 with the launch of its flagship campaign, ‘AdvantAge60: Powering Aspirations – Active, Enabled & Empowered.’ The initiative aims to celebrate the resilience, strength, and untapped potential of India’s elders—challenging stereotypes of ageing and showcasing how life after sixty can be a vibrant phase of fulfilment and contribution.
The campaign was unveiled at the India International Centre in the presence of Guest of Honour Raghubir Yadav, the acclaimed artist, actor, singer, and musician. The Chief Guest was Professor E.V. Chitnis, centenarian, former ISRO scientist, and Padma Bhushan awardee, who pioneered India’s space programme alongside Vikram Sarabhai. Joining virtually, Chitnis shared glimpses of his remarkable 100-year journey:
“I don’t know the secret to good health or long life. What I do know is, that I pursued my work and research with great determination, often through many struggles. We began space science research with a vision to help India excel. No one instructed us, we simply seized the opportunities before us. Today’s youth are confident and clear about what they want to do, just as we were. What they need is an enabling environment that allows them to flourish.”
Earlier studies by HelpAge revealed that 40% of elders wished to remain employed “as long as possible,” while recent research highlighted generational perceptions—where youth often view elders as “dependent” (48%) but also “wise” (51%) and “respected” (43%).
Speaking on the campaign, Rohit Prasad, CEO, HelpAge India, said, “It is vital that we recognize the potential and promise of life after sixty. Today, a growing number of senior citizens aspire to remain active, engaged and valued – not be seen as dependents but as contributing members of society. They seek opportunities to work, start ventures, volunteer, mentor and to share their wealth of experience – yet the platforms available for them remain limited. This makes it imperative for us to build an enabling environment across every sphere – in policy, in workplaces, and within communities. AdvantAge 60 is a call-to-action for all stakeholders to make this possible. We must create meaningful channels for elders to apply their lifelong learnings, wisdom and skills. Let age not become a barrier, but instead reimagine ageing as a stage of life with a renewed purpose, filled with possibilities.”
Chairing the event was 78-year-old Kiran Karnik, eminent technocrat and Chairperson of HelpAge India. Sharing his perspective, he noted, “Today’s theme ‘AdvantAge60: Powering Aspirations’ is extremely close to my heart. I think the first step is towards making any impactful change is a change in mindset, whereby elders are seen as an asset and not a burden. Improvements in medicine, science, and healthcare have resulted in longevity now taking centre stage, and the concept of ‘active ageing’. The proportion and number of elders in our population will practically double over the next 25 years, creating a major demographic shift. While we are currently benefitting from the youth bulge in our population (the ‘demographic dividend’), imagine the impact if we could add to that the contribution of nearly 140 million elderly! … What is required is a systemic change in how we approach elder needs, and the creation of avenues for them to realise their potential, so that we add life to their years and not just years to their life.”
The occasion also honoured ‘Super Senior Achievers’ over 85 years of age, including Mrs. Prabhavati Bhagwati (98), Mr. J.C. Luther (102), Dr. Vinod Kumar (87) and Mr. Niren Sengupta (85), as well as ‘Champions of Change’—individuals driving transformation in elder care such as Dr. Giridhar Prasad Bhagat, Ms. Neelam Mohan, Ms. Meera Khanna, Mr. Alagarathanam Natarajan and Mr. Jiwan Ram Gupta.
A panel discussion on ‘Building New Enabling Ecosystems for Elders’ featured thought leaders including Amarjeet Sinha (IAS), Ms. Gita Nayyar, Dr. A.B. Dey, Dr. Mohsin Wali, and Mr. Harbinder Narula, moderated by Mr. Kunal Kishore, Mission Head – Agecare, HelpAge India.
HelpAge also reiterated its commitment to promoting active ageing through livelihood programmes, digital literacy training, preventive healthcare, and its flagship Mobile Healthcare services reaching remote parts of the country. With ‘AdvantAge60’, the organization calls for a national shift in how ageing is perceived and addressed—transforming it into a stage of opportunity, empowerment, and purpose.
