Denmark explores collaboration with Kudumbashree in the field of elderly care

Danish Minister for Senior Citizens Mette Kierkgaard and Denmark’s Ambassador to India Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen held discussions with Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh on Thursday (January 8, 2026) to explore the possibilities of the country’s collaboration with Kudumbashree in the field of elderly care. Further steps will be taken after discussions with NoRKA-Roots, the field agency of the Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA) in Kerala.

The possibility of training Kudumbashree workers and deputing them as social healthcare helpers in the field of caregiving in Denmark was discussed. The discussion was also focussed on the K for Care project being run by Kudumbashree in Kerala. The team observed that Kudumbashree’s intervention in the field of geriatric and palliative care is exemplary.

Mr. Rajesh said that Kerala can make a significant contribution in the field of elderly caregiving just as in the field of nursing. Local self-government bodies are ensuring exemplary intervention in the field of palliative care. Kudumbashree has been making significant interventions in this field within a short period of its inception. The interest expressed from foreign countries in these projects are a recognition of the interventions, he said.

Kudumbashree has already trained more than a thousand people and deployed them in the field of elderly care through K for Care. Kudumbashree provides a month-long residential training in collaboration with National Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (NIPMR), Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust, Aspirant Learning Academy and other institutions. They are currently deployed for work in Kerala. For assigning care workers to Denmark, more extensive training and Danish language studies are essential. A decision regarding these matters will be taken during further discussions, said Mr. Rajesh. 

Local Self-government department Secretary T.V. Anupama and Kudumbashree Executive Director H. Dineshan also participated in the discussion.