The man bringing dignity back to India’s forgotten elders

Across India, thousands of elderly people spend their final years in silence. Many are abandoned on roadsides, outside hospitals or at railway stations. Some live with families who no longer have the time or patience to care for them. Others are simply left to survive on their own. According to data from the Agewell Foundation, more than 50 million senior citizens in the country face loneliness, neglect or some form of abandonment. It is a crisis that rarely makes headlines, yet it grows every year.

In a society moving quickly towards technology, independence and ambition, the elderly often find themselves without a place. Traditions of caring for parents and grandparents, once seen as a natural duty, are weakening. As families become smaller and lifestyles more demanding, many older people slip through the cracks. The silence around their suffering has made the problem almost invisible.

Amid this silence, one young man has chosen a different path.

25-year-old Jas Kalra runs a shelter home that has become a refuge for over 1,500 abandoned senior citizens. Here, elderly people who were once left alone now find food, clothing, medical help and, most importantly, dignity. The atmosphere inside the shelter is emotional yet hopeful. Many residents greet Jas like a family member. When he walks through the corridors, dozens of hands reach out to him — hands that have lived long, hard lives but still look for care.

Jas does not describe himself as a social worker or a hero. He says he started helping because he could not ignore what he saw around him. Over time, his shelter grew into one of the few large spaces in the country dedicated to abandoned elders. His day begins with meeting the residents, checking on new arrivals and ensuring that everyone receives meals and basic attention. He sits with those who are upset, listens to their stories, and tries to fill the emotional gap left by families who are no longer present.

The stories he hears are painful. Some elders were left outside hospitals after falling ill. Others were removed from their homes because their families could not afford the expenses. Many were simply left behind due to old age, disability or loneliness. Yet within the shelter, Jas works to create a feeling of community. Residents eat together, celebrate festivals, and find companionship among people who share the same experiences.

Jas’s work raises an important question for society: why are such efforts not spoken about more often? India frequently celebrates young people who succeed in business, entertainment or online platforms. But those who choose quiet, difficult work, like caring for abandoned elders, rarely receive attention. Their contribution is just as important, yet often overlooked.

The presence of a shelter like Jas’s shows that solutions do exist. His initiative demonstrates that one person, even without vast resources, can build something meaningful. But it also highlights the scale of the larger issue. India’s ageing population is increasing, and without proper support systems, many more elders may face neglect in the coming years.

Jas believes the answer begins with awareness. Talking openly about abandonment, supporting those who care for the elderly, and encouraging communities to take responsibility can reduce the problem. “Hope is there,” he often says, “but it needs people to keep it alive.”

His work is a reminder that compassion still exists and that it can quietly change lives, without recognition or publicity. In a country facing many challenges, the efforts of one young man show what can happen when someone decides to stand beside those who have nowhere else to go.

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