Following the formation of the Department of Senior Citizens in the state, the Centre for Socio-economic and Environmental Studies (CSES), Kochi, has been empanelled by the Department to conduct research studies and to provide academic and technical support to the activities of the Department.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Dr Arun S Nair, IAS, Director of the Department, and Dr N Ajith Kumar, Director of CSES, formalising the collaboration at the One-Day Workshop at Thiruvananthapuram on 9 November, 2026, held as part of the initial works of the newly formed Department.
The objective of the workshop was to formulate a State Policy for Elderly Citizens and prepare a Comprehensive Action Plan aligning with the Policy to be implemented in the state by 2027. Dr N Ajith Kumar and Dr Parvathy Sunaina, Associate Fellow, CSES, were also invited to share their perspectives in the session on the Theme, ‘Research and Data-oriented Policy making’.
Dr N Ajith Kumar, along with the Heads and Representatives of other empanelled institutions, also met the Hon. Chief Minister, Sri V. D. Satheesan, to discuss and deliberate upon collaborative strategies for senior welfare and the envisaged activities of the Department.