Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a heartwarming initiative aimed at offering essential physical aids and assisted-living devices to older citizens who belong to the economically vulnerable category. Imagine grandparents or older people neighbors who may struggle with mobility or daily tasks due to financial constraints. This scheme, fully supported by the Central Government, steps in to provide much-needed support and dignity to these individuals. It’s a testament to the nation’s commitment to caring for its elders. Spearheaded by the caring folks at the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the program ensures that no senior older citizen is left behind, offering them the means to live their lives with comfort and independence.

Importance of the Scheme

In 2011, the Census reported that India had about 10.38 crore older citizens.
Over 70% of these older people reside in rural areas across the country, showing a significant rural-urban divide in aging populations.
A notable statistic reveals that around 5.2% of older citizens grapple with disabilities associated with old age.
Projections foresee a substantial increase in the older people population, estimated to reach around 173 million by 2026.
To address the needs of economically disadvantaged older citizens facing age-related disabilities, the Government has introduced the Central Sector Scheme.

Duration

The Scheme duration is for period of the 3 years ie. upto 2019-20.

Eligibility

older citizens who are part of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category and are experiencing age-related disabilities like low vision, hearing impairment, loss of teeth, or locomotor disability will receive assisted-living devices.
These devices aim to restore near-normal bodily functions, helping older people overcome the challenges posed by their disabilities.
The scheme is projected to positively impact 520,000 older people individuals nationwide, providing them with the necessary support and assistance for a better quality of life.

Salient Features of the Scheme

We’ll provide assistive devices for free to older citizen based on the severity of their disabilities or ailments.
If a person has multiple disabilities, we’ll provide assistance for each one.
ALIMCO will take care of maintenance for one year after providing the devices.
Each district’s eligible beneficiaries will be identified by a committee led by the Deputy Commissioner or District Collector.
We aim to ensure that at least 30% of beneficiaries in each district are women.
To identify older citizens in the BPL category, the committee can use data from schemes like NSAP.
We’ll distribute the devices in camp settings for easier access.

Way Ahead

Improving the lives of older citizen is crucial, especially considering that over 70% of the 104 million older people in India reside in rural areas. Any meaningful effort to enhance their well-being must ensure sufficient funding for social welfare programs tailored to their needs. Looking ahead, as we anticipate the older population nearly tripling to around 300 million by 2050, constituting about a fifth of the total population, governments must adopt more holistic approaches to address the challenges faced by older people.