Lonely, bored, elderly citizens in a quiet village in Kottayam may soon enjoy some good company and they don't even have to pay for it. In a first in Kerala, the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) has launched a pilot project called Time Bank in Elikulam panchayat to support senior citizens who live alone. The initiative is part of the One Local Body, One Idea campaign, which encourages panchayats to find localised solutions to various problems. Inspired by the popular Japanese idea, Time Bank credits volunteers with incentives in exchange for the time spent with the elderly people.

Elikulam, which has a population of more than 24,000 according to the 2011 census, is home to over 7,000 senior citizens. That large number was what prompted the panchayat to look for an idea that could address the needs of elderly people living without support.

“As part of the One Local Body, One Idea campaign, K-DISC works with academic institutions and experts to identify issues in each panchayat and come up with innovative projects,” says Deepa P Gopinath, consultant at K-DISC. “Kerala has already overcome first-generation challenges such as housing and roads. Now we are focusing on newer development issues like waste management, road safety and social inclusion.”

K-DISC invited panchayats across Kerala to submit their key issues through a questionnaire on the Indulekha portal. Of the 215 that responded, Elikulam raised the problem of its growing elderly population. “That is how the Time Bank project took shape,” Deepa says.

The concept was developed in partnership with Alive Foundation, which works in the area of elder care and social awareness. Volunteers offer their time to help senior citizens with everyday tasks such as going to the bank, visiting the market or simply spending time together. In return, they earn time credits instead of money.

“The concept of a time bank already exists in countries like Japan and the United States, but this is the first time it is being implemented in Kerala,” Deepa says. “The time spent helping an elderly person is recorded, and that time gets credited to the volunteer," she says.

Both volunteers and elders register on a dedicated website, which has been built through a collaboration between K-DISC and students of the Government Engineering College, Wayanad. “Dr Gilesh, who was then working at the college, assigned the website development as a project for final-year students. The students, along with an alumnus who now works in the industry, built it and the trial run has begun,” Deepa explains.

Volunteers have to undergo a registration process that includes mandatory police verification. Once verified, they can specify what kind of services they can offer and where they are available. When an elderly person requests assistance, the website alerts nearby volunteers. Those who are available can accept or decline the request. Once a task is completed, an OTP-based system helps record the start and end time, and those hours are added to the volunteer’s account.

“The panchayat will decide what form of incentives can be given to volunteers, but it will not be money,” Deepa says. “Volunteers can be anyone, not just youngsters or students. Even older people who are active and able to help can register.”

The system also allows for ratings and feedback. Elders can share their experience with a volunteer, and volunteers can also rate their interactions. This helps create a sense of trust and accountability within the community.

Implementation in Elikulam involves the panchayat, the police department, the local auto-taxi union and the senior citizens’ collective. Elderly residents can register on their own or through certain institutions. At present, the services offered are basic assistance, such as accompanying them to a hospital or market, rather than medical support. Based on the trial run, further improvements will be made over the coming months.

What is Japan’s time bank scheme for the elderly?
Japan’s time bank scheme, known as Fureai Kippu (meaning “Caring Relationship Tickets”), lets people earn credits by helping the elderly — such as assisting with shopping, cleaning, or companionship. Each hour of service earns one credit, which can later be used to receive similar help when the volunteer grows older or needs support. These credits can also be transferred to family members. The system encourages mutual aid and community care, reducing reliance on formal welfare services while promoting social connection among generations.

S. Shaji, standing committee chairperson of Elikulam panchayat, says the initiative was designed for those who lack any external help. “Right now, there are 7,652 senior citizens in Elikulam, and we have started a survey to find out what kind of assistance they mostly need,” he says. “Many of them live alone and do not have anyone to accompany them to the bank or the hospital. If their neighbours or relatives are busy, these volunteers can step in.” The panchayat will decide on the type of incentives that can be given to the volunteers.

According to Shaji, Elikulam has always been active in elder welfare. “We already have senior citizens’ clubs and regular tours for them. That is why we decided to choose this topic for the One Local Body, One Idea campaign,” he says.

For K-DISC, Elikulam is just the beginning. If the pilot succeeds, the project could be expanded to other parts of the state. “The trial run will help us understand what needs to be improved, and we expect the system to be fully functional in about a month,” Deepa says.