Punjab, this land is not just of five rivers, but an unfathomable ocean of thousands of stories and experiences of the elderly. The fast pace of modernization has broken families into small ‘units’. Homes have become bigger, but the corners of hearts have become smaller, and in these small corners, our elderly—the banyan trees of our lives—have been left standing alone. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government has recognized this invisible pain and has written not just a scheme, but a love letter—named: ‘Sadde Buzurg Sadda Maan’ (Our Elders, Our Pride). This is not just a slogan, it is a resolve to revive Punjab’s culture, where the elderly were the foundation of homes, and fulfilling their every need was considered the supreme duty of the family.
This initiative is not like some old pension scheme, but an attempt to restore that old love and respect which they truly deserve. This scheme was launched on International Senior Citizens Day (October 3, 2023) and its objective is to provide essential care and dignity to the state’s elderly. Minister Baljit Kaur, while announcing ‘Sadde Buzurg Sadda Maan’, said that the aim of this campaign is to promote the welfare of senior citizens in the state. Under this campaign, health camps for the elderly will be organized at the district level across the state. In these health camps, age-related diseases of the elderly will be treated. These health camps will provide comprehensive geriatric care, ENT (Ear Nose Throat) examination, eye examination along with free distribution of spectacles. Additionally, these camps will provide essential medicines for senior citizens as well as free eye surgery facilities.
The Punjab government has also launched a pension scheme for elderly residents of the state, which is benefiting 2.2 million senior citizens who are currently receiving this pension. The objective of this initiative is to ensure economic stability for those in society who do not have a reliable source of income. Under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, ₹1,500 per month is directly deposited into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
Senior citizen cards have been issued by the Punjab government for the convenience of the elderly. Health camps have been organized in several districts of Punjab, including Faridkot, Moga, Ludhiana, Muktsar Sahib, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Batala, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, SAS Nagar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Patiala, Rupnagar and Fatehgarh Sahib.
Additionally, the Bhagwant Mann government has issued a toll-free helpline number ‘14567’ for the elderly through the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department. Grievances related to senior citizens will be heard on this. According to officials, it is committed to ensuring the well-being of the elderly population in the state and promoting a supportive and healthy environment. This helpline is serving as a crucial resource for addressing complaints of the elderly in Punjab. Overall, ‘Sadde Buzurg Sadda Maan’ reflects the Punjab government’s commitment to supporting its senior citizens.
Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that by August 2025, an amount of ₹2055.05 crore has been released under the old age pension scheme. She said that during this period, 23.09 lakh senior citizens have benefited from this scheme. For the current financial year, the state government has provided a budget of ₹4100 crore for old age pension.
‘Sadde Buzurg Sadda Maan’ is not limited to just health and financial assistance. Its biggest impact has been on that self-respect which had been lost somewhere due to loneliness and neglect. When an elderly person wears free spectacles and can clearly see their grandchild’s face again, when they are not dependent on anyone to get their medicine, a different glow appears on their face. This glow is the biggest success of this scheme.
This scheme is proof that a home where the elderly are respected is always prosperous, and a state where the elderly are honored reaches new heights of progress. “This is not just a scheme, it is the tilak on Punjab’s forehead, which reminds us that respect for our elderly is our greatest wealth.” The Mann government’s this step sends a message to society that the elderly are our heritage, our pride. Serving them is our debt. The land of Punjab has never abandoned the tradition of service, and ‘Sadde Buzurg Sadda Maan’ is giving new dimensions to that very tradition.
