The SHATAYU Geriatric Caregiver Portal, an online platform launched by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment to help senior citizens connect with trained caregivers, has become the subject of controversy following viral social media claims questioning the authenticity of its database.
Posts circulating online alleged that many or even all of the approximately 34,000 caregiver profiles listed on the portal were fake. However, these allegations have not been independently verified and the Government of India has denied that the portal is fraudulent.
What Is the SHATAYU Portal?
The SHATAYU portal was developed by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It is intended to provide families with access to trained geriatric caregivers by allowing users to search profiles based on location, qualifications and experience.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader effort to improve elderly care services as India’s senior citizen population continues to grow.
How the Controversy Began
The issue gained attention after social media users and online commentators claimed that several caregiver profiles appeared to contain duplicate information or other inconsistencies. Some posts went further, alleging that the entire database of around 34,000 profiles had been fabricated.
These claims spread widely across social media, prompting questions about the accuracy of the portal’s data and its verification process.
Government Responds
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has rejected allegations that the SHATAYU portal is a scam or that all listed caregiver profiles are fake.
According to the Ministry, the portal includes caregivers trained over several years, many of whom registered themselves after completing recognised training programmes. Officials acknowledged that technical issues and data inconsistencies were identified after the portal’s launch and stated that the database is being reviewed and updated to remove duplicate or inaccurate entries where necessary.
The Ministry has also urged the public not to rely on unverified claims circulating on social media.
No Official Evidence of Fraud
As of the time of publication, no official investigation or independent authority has concluded that the SHATAYU portal is fraudulent or that all caregiver profiles are fabricated.
While concerns regarding duplicate or incorrect entries have been raised publicly, these issues should not be interpreted as proof that the entire database is fake.
Looking Ahead
The controversy has highlighted the importance of maintaining accurate and transparent public databases, particularly for services intended to assist vulnerable groups such as senior citizens.
The government says it will continue verifying and updating caregiver records, while observers are calling for stronger quality checks and greater transparency in digital public service platforms.
Until further evidence or findings emerge from any official inquiry, claims describing the SHATAYU portal as a “scam” remain unverified allegations rather than established facts.
