The policy aims to create an inclusive society where senior citizens live meaningful, productive, healthy, and dignified lives with equal rights and opportunities

Thinley Namgay

By 2047, one in every 10 Bhutanese will be over 65 years, and one in five will be over 60. These demographic shifts, coupled with evolving socio-cultural values, will amplify the challenges faced by senior citizens over time.

Currently, many struggle with poor health, homelessness, food insecurity, and financial difficulties, especially in rural areas where the majority reside.

Understanding these unavoidable trends, Bhutan is in the process of finalising its National Policy for Senior Citizens of Bhutan (NPSCB) 2023.

Spearheaded by the Royal Society for Senior Citizens (RSSC), the policy aims to create an inclusive society where senior citizens live meaningful, productive, healthy, and dignified lives with equal rights and opportunities.

Speaking at the high-level sensitisation programme on NPSCB 2023 in Thimphu on December 21, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay highlighted the significance of the policy. “Under the benevolent leadership of His Majesty The King, elders in Bhutan have always been revered as advisors and nurtured within strong family and community support systems.” However, Lyonchhen cautioned that with the changing times and values, youth migration to urban areas and overseas, are eroding the traditional care structures. “There is a growing need to preserve these traditions and instill the importance of caring for senior citizens within families.”

Lyonchhen said that guided by His Majesty the King’s concern for their welfare—be it through access to healthcare, financial assistance, homes, or employment opportunities—this programme and the policy are both timely and essential.

To make the NPSCB more practical and sustainable, the Prime Minister emphasised the need to foster collective responsibility through this policy. He added that the current policy places most of the responsibilities on the government.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of involving civil society organisations, local governments, private sectors, religious communities, and individual families as the first point of care for the elderly.

The NPSCB 2023, a 16-page document launched last year, proposes nine key interventions. These include improving family and social support systems, ensuring economic security, enhancing health and well-being, and providing senior-friendly infrastructure and public services.

The policy also emphasises multigenerational bonding, safety, media accessibility, and research on aging.

The policy also aims to address infrastructure gaps, including the need for ramps, lifts, and accessible public spaces. Engagement opportunities for retirees and provisions for pensions are being explored to ensure a fulfilling life for senior citizens.

One of the members of RSSC’s Board of Trustees, Pema Lhamo, said that many retirees possess a wealth of experience but have limited opportunities to contribute to society. “NPSCB could address this,” she said.

The Vice President of the RSSC, Dr Sangay Thinley, called the policy timely, pointing out that the 2017 National Statistics Bureau report mentioned that 71 percent of senior citizens worry about sickness and death, 63 percent face financial problems, 41 percent experience neglect, and instances of abuse are also reported.

The policy aligns with the global Decade of the Elderly (2021–2030), focusing on improving the lives of aging populations worldwide.

Senior citizens present at the sensitisation programme emphasised the need for a holistic approach.

“Aging is inevitable,” said one participant. “But with the right policies in place, senior citizens can continue to play a vital role in our society.”

Bhutan’s elderly population is witnessing unprecedented growth, driven by declining fertility rates and increased life expectancy.

In 2022, individuals aged 60 and above constituted 9.5 percent of the population, a figure expected to double to 19.7 percent by 2047. Similarly, those aged 65 and above made up 6.6 percent of the population in 2022, projected to rise to 13.4 percent by 2047.