The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, recently organized ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivirs’ camps at 72 locations across the country in an effort to empower senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. The goal of these camps is to distribute a variety of aid and assistive devices to more than 12,000 people under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana.
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana: An Overview
The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is an initiative launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It is a central sector scheme funded by the Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund. The executing body of this scheme is the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a PSU under the Ministry.
Eligibility and Features of the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is aimed at aiding Senior Citizens who fall into the Below Poverty Line(BPL) category and are suffering from any age-related disability or infirmity. The primary function of this scheme is to distribute, free of cost, devices that correspond with the level of disability or infirmity found in eligible senior citizens.
Assistive devices supported under this scheme include walking sticks, elbow crutches, walkers and crutches, hearing aids, wheelchairs, artificial dentures, and spectacles. The scheme is projected to benefit over half a million Senior Citizens across the country.
Other Government Initiatives for the Elderly
In addition to Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, the Indian Government has several other initiatives directed towards the welfare of the elderly population. Among these are the National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP), the National Social Assistance Programme, the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY), and the SAMPANN Project.
Each of these initiatives has a specific focus, with the overall objective of improving the quality of life for India’s elderly population. For instance, the NPOP looks to provide affordable healthcare and accommodation for older persons. Similarly, the PMVVY is a pension scheme that seeks to provide a secure and dignified life for senior citizens.
‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivirs’ Camps: Enabling the Disabled and Empowering Seniors
The recently concluded ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivirs’ camps serve as one of the key initiatives in implementing the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana. These camps were organized simultaneously at 72 locations across India, with the aim of reaching out to senior citizens and people with disabilities.
In these camps, over 12,000 individuals received various aids and assistive devices as per their needs. This large-scale initiative stands as a testament to the Indian Government’s commitment to empowering senior citizens and individuals with disabilities.