Vayah Vikas Connect - January 2026

A new year invites reflection, but more importantly, it demands direction. At Vayah Vikas, our direction remains clear. We exist to be the voice of seniors in India, not as observers, but as active participants shaping policy, workplaces, communities, and public discourse. India is ageing, and with that shift comes both responsibility and opportunity. Seniors today are healthier, more informed, and eager to contribute. Yet systems, institutions, and narratives are still catching up. Our work continues to bridge that gap by advocating for age inclusion, strengthening community spaces, building partnerships, and ensuring that senior perspectives are heard where decisions are made. This year, we deepen our commitment to dignity, purpose, and participation across the life course. We will continue to amplify concerns, enable engagement, and build platforms where seniors are not defined by age, but by agency. The future must include every generation. At Vayah Vikas, we will continue to ensure that the senior voice is clear, confident, and impossible to ignore.

As India’s workforce demographics evolve, age inclusion is moving from a social consideration to a core business and governance priority. India’s ESG framework, anchored in SEBI’s Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR), is uniquely positioned to support this shift. Built on stakeholder capitalism, strong regulatory oversight, and an emphasis on employment, inclusion, and dignity, the principle-based structure of BRSR allows workforce realities such as age diversity to be integrated meaningfully over time. Although age is not explicitly referenced, it is embedded across key BRSR principles, including employee well-being, human rights and non-discrimination, inclusive growth, and workforce planning and risk governance. Seen through this lens, age inclusion is a natural progression of India’s ESG journey. At Vayah Vikas, we are actively working with organizations to translate this imperative into action through age-inclusive workforce strategies, policy advisory, and ecosystem partnerships. By aligning longevity, work, and well-being, we support businesses in building sustainable, future-ready workplaces. We will be engaging with corporate leaders again next month to explore practical pathways and collaborative approaches to take this agenda forward. The next phase of responsible business in India will be defined by how inclusively we design work across the life course. Dr Jamuna Ravi CEO, Vayah Vikas

In January, we strengthened our outreach through meaningful partnerships with Portea Medical and Aasaan Will, aligned with our vision to serve more seniors effectively. Portea Medical, a leading home healthcare provider with presence across 29 cities in India, brings expertise in doctor consultations, nursing care, physiotherapy, and at-home medical services, enhancing access to quality healthcare for seniors. Aasaan Will partnered with us to simplify estate planning for our members through its easy-to-use digital platform for creating legally valid wills, making an often complex process clear and accessible. As part of these collaborations, we successfully conducted two engaging webinars. A session on fun and engagement with Marzi on 16th January was highly interactive and well received, while a webinar on will writing and estate planning with Aasaan Will on 30th January provided practical insights and clarity to participants.

January set a strong and energetic tone for 2026, with the Mobilisation Team actively engaging communities across key initiatives. A Dementia Awareness session at **St. Anthony’s Friary Church **saw an overwhelming response, with over 60 seniors participating and five on-the-spot screenings conducted, far exceeding initial expectations. The same day, a lively engagement session at Shapoorji Pallonji Park West Apartments brought seniors together for meaningful interaction and connection. The month concluded with an important Cyber Security awareness session on 30 January, equipping participants to better protect themselves against rising online scams and digital fraud. With strong participation and renewed commitment, January marked a powerful start to the year and set the pace for the months ahead.

The Vayah Vikas Member Advisory Circle, held on 20 January at Ekta Hub, was a highly engaging and productive interaction with 30 active members. The session created a warm and participatory space for honest dialogue, thoughtful feedback, and constructive suggestions. Members shared their experiences, reflected on their engagement with programmes and EKTA Hub activities, and offered valuable inputs on communication, outreach, and future direction. The open discussion was vibrant, solution-oriented, and forward-looking, reaffirming the strength of our community and the shared commitment to shaping Vayah **Vikas **together. The insights gathered will directly inform our next phase of growth and member engagement.

Ekta Hub continues to grow as a vibrant community space for seniors, with strong participation and expanding reach. In January 2026, the Hub conducted a Cognitive Screening and an ENT Screening with an awareness talk. Both sessions saw higher-than-usual attendance, including many first-time participants. Members valued the focus on preventive health, early detection, and the convenience of expert-led sessions within the community. Expansion is underway with two new hubs. The Yelahanka Hub is being set up with outreach already in progress, and will focus on health screenings, language learning, and cultural activities. The JP Nagar Hub is planned with an emphasis on wellness programs and peer-led creative workshops. Looking back at 2025, Ekta Hub conducted over 40 activities across health, wellness, skills, and cultural engagement. Average participation ranged from 15 to 20 members per session, with health-related programs drawing the highest interest. The year also saw stronger systems, structured feedback, and deeper collaborations, reinforcing Ekta Hub’s credibility. As participation continues to rise, the next phase will focus on scaling through new hubs and enabling seniors to take on active roles as facilitators, mentors, and contributors—strengthening Ekta Hub’s vision of senior-led spaces built on dignity, purpose, and well-being.

Vegetable Millets Upma – A Nutritious Start for Seniors Millets are often called a superfood for good reason. They are rich in fibre, packed with essential minerals, and naturally low in glycaemic index, making them diabetic friendly and supportive of healthy weight management. For senior citizens, millets help improve digestion, support heart health, and provide steady energy without sudden sugar spikes. Many people hesitate to include millets in their diet because they expect them to taste bland. This vegetable millets upma changes that perception completely. Cooked with ghee, mild spices, crunchy cashews, and colourful vegetables, it turns into a wholesome, flavourful meal that is both satisfying and easy to digest. This simple, nourishing dish is ideal for breakfast or a light dinner. Try this delicious vegetable millets upma and share how it turned out. Ingredients ½ cup millets 1 tbsp + 1 tsp desi ghee ½ tsp mustard seeds ½ tsp urad dal ½ tsp channa dal 15 cashew kernels 3 green chillies 1 tsp finely chopped ginger ½ cup diced onions 1 medium tomato, diced ¼ cup finely diced beans ¼ cup finely diced carrots ¼ cup finely diced capsicum Salt to taste ¼ tsp turmeric powder Coriander leaves for garnish Method (Simple Steps)

1. Rinse ½ cup millets in water and drain. Set aside.
2. In a pan, warm 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon ghee over medium heat.
3. When the ghee melts, add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds. Once they crackle, add ½ teaspoon urad dal, ½ teaspoon channa dal and 15 cashew kernels. Fry until the cashews turn light brown.
4. Add 3 green chillies (split or chopped) and 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger. Stir for a few seconds.
5. Add ½ cup diced onions. Sauté until the onions soften. Then add 1 medium diced tomato. Cook until slightly pulpy. Add ¼ cup each of finely diced beans, carrots and capsicum. Sprinkle salt and ¼ teaspoon turmeric. Stir and cook the vegetables until they are just tender.
6. Add the drained millets to the pan with the vegetables. Mix well so the grains are coated with the ghee and spices.
7. Pour in about 1¼ to 1½ cups of hot water. Stir once. Cover the pan with a lid and cook on low heat until the millets absorb the water and become soft. This usually takes about 10–12 minutes.
8. Turn off the heat. Let the upma rest, covered, for a few minutes. Then fluff the grains gently with a fork.
9. Sprinkle finely chopped coriander leaves on top before serving. This version yields a warm, well-textured upma that is nutritious and suitable for a healthy diet, including for senior citizens and people managing diabetes. Adjust the water amount if you prefer a softer or drier consistency.