Thiruvananthapuram, May 20 -- The Keralam Government issued an order on Tuesday for the formation of the Department of Senior Citizens Welfare to formulate and implement new welfare schemes for the elderly in the state, as well as to coordinate and execute existing schemes.

This comes hours after Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan, shortly after taking oath on Monday, led the newly formed government's first Cabinet meeting, where a series of welfare-oriented decisions were announced, focusing on social support and public welfare.

Among the key decisions was the announcement of a new department for the elderly.

The Cabinet also announced a Rs 3,000 increase in the monthly honorarium of ASHA workers, fulfilling a long-standing demand ra...