Indrani Chakravarty designed the first institute in India with the osmosis of research on and practical work and care for the elderly in Kolkata. The project not only provides necessary services to the elderly in Kolkata, but it draws necessary attention to the plight of the 104 million elderly in all of India.

In 1982, when Indrani first visited Japan as part of her Ph. D. research on retired people, she saw something she had never seen in her own country – clubs, restaurants and libraries existing exclusively for the aged. She saw an entire network of geriatric units, including the enormous Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology; she saw nutritional support, recreational, psychological and counselling services designed strictly for people over 60. Having studied issues surrounding Gerontology in India for over three years, she wondered if perhaps India might need similar programs. Her answer was not only affirmative, but her subsequent work would be as well.

Her institute, The Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (CMIG), which she founded in 1988, now serves as a base for her myriad of smaller ideas – all designed to provide a meaningful life for people over 60. These ideas include a mobile medical care unit, mobile medical centre for slum areas, recreational programs, a library for the aged, an adult literacy program, a lobbying drive for special seats for the elderly on Calcutta’s buses, a computer training program, geriatric counselling as well as the first journal in India, titled “Ageing & Society”, which covers research papers specifically concerning people over sixty.

CMIG is now functioning as “Regional Resource and Training Centre on Ageing” approved by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

Indrani Chakravarty is the member of :
– the Expert Committee, University Grants Commission for designing Academic Modules for Gerontology, Geriatrics and Kinesiology
– the expert committee of the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIHFW) for Strengthening National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly
She is also the Editor of “Ageing & Society” – The Indian Journal of Gerontology.

Follow Dr. Indrani Chakravarty on YouTube

• Research Specialization Area – Sociology of Ageing
• Title of PhD thesis : The Pensioners in Calcutta – A Gerontological Study
• Areas of Research Interest : Productive Ageing, Gerontechnology, Rights of the elderly and Regulatory Mandates, Dynamics of Population Ageing, Care Giving and Advocacy.·
• Publications of Books/Articles :-

National Award :
VAYOSHRESHTHA SAMMAN FOR INSTITUTION OF KNOWLEDGE, 2006
Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (CMIG)
E-1, Sopan Kutir,
53/B, Dr. S. C. Banerjee Road, Kolkata
West Bengal, India
Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (CMIG) has emerged as a dedicated Age Care institute taking up research, advocacy, training and service in a comprehensive manner. Founded in 1988 to make positive contribution in the area of gerontology and to create enabling environment to ensure active and healthy ageing. It has taken up initiatives in organizing seminars and symposia to highlight various issues related to care of elderly for last two decades. It has also undertaken a number of research projects to contribute towards creating a better understanding of the issues of ageing. As a centre of excellence in the field of Geriatric Care in Eastern region, CMIG has been conducting trainings in Geriatric Care, Geriatric Counselling, computer training for senior citizens along with training in quality Dementia care. For its concerted and dedicated effort, the institute is now widely recognized.

BCC&i recognises the contribution of Dr. Indrani Chakravarty in the field of Ageing :

Watch the Royal Ageing Awards nite on YouTube.

Making a difference – Outlook, September 13 1999

Hand of Support – Times of India, December 10 2006

Watch Dr. Indrani Chakravarty’s interviews on YouTube.