States' News

Elder-Friendly Office Certification – Kerala

September 13 , 2026 9 hrs 0 min 13 0

Kerala launched the Elder-Friendly Office Certification (EFOC) scheme to assess whether public offices and institutions are accessible and convenient for senior citizens.
EFOC is the first government certification system of its kind in India, covering physical accessibility, service delivery, staff behaviour, communication and senior-citizen participation.
Mandatory facilities include step-free access, a ground-floor toilet, a priority queue for senior citizens and a designated officer to address their needs.
14 offices, one in each district, will be selected for a pilot programme in the first six months; it will later expand to village, taluk and other government offices.
Kerala is India’s most rapidly ageing State, with about 16.5% of its population above 60 years in 2021, projected to reach 20.9% by 2031