Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

Recently, a distribution camp for free of cost distribution of 896 Physical Aid and Assistive Living devices to Senior Citizens under Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) and 469 Assistive Aid & Devices among Divyangjan under the CSR initiative of  Power Trading Corporation of India Ltd. (PTC) Foundation was held at Noida(UP).

• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a ‘Scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to BPL category’ was launched in District Nellore, Andhra Pradesh on 1st April, 2017.
• This is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Central Government. The expenditure for implementation of the scheme will be met from the "Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund".
• The Scheme will be implemented through the sole implementing agency - Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a PSU under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Who is the beneficiary?

• The physical aids are being provided only to the senior citizens of the nation. This implies those who are aged above 60 years will get free assisted living aids and physical devices which are required for their sustainability.
• Also the govt. has selected the list of cities where the scheme will be implemented.
• The main criteria for the senior citizens to get full benefits of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) scheme is that they must belong to BPL family and should hold valid BPL card issued by the concerned authority.

Eligiblity?

• Senior Citizens, belonging to BPL category and suffering from any of the age related disability/infirmity viz. Low vision, Hearing impairment, Loss of teeth and Locomotor disability will be provided with such assisted-living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions, overcoming the disability/infirmity manifested.

Various Devices supported?

• Walking sticks
• Elbow crutches
• Walkers/Crutches
• Tripods/Quadpods
• Hearing Aids
• Wheelchair
• Artificial Dentures
• Spectacles

Duration of the scheme

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

Salient features of the scheme?

• Free of cost distribution of the devices, commensurate with the extent of disability/infirmity that is manifested among the eligible senior citizens.
• In case of multiple disabilities/infirmities manifested in the same person, the assistive devices will be given in respect of each disability/impairment.
• Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO)will undertake one year free maintenance of the aids & assisted living devices.
• Beneficiaries in each district will be identified by the State Governments/UT Administrations through a Committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector.
• As far as possible, 30% of the beneficiaries in each district shall be women.
• The State Government/UT Administration/District Level Committee can also utilize the data of BPL beneficiaries receiving Old Age Pension under the NSAP or any other Scheme of the State/UT for identification of senior citizens belonging to BPL category.
• The devices will be distributed in Camp mode.

Area/Districts covered under the scheme?

• At present, a total of 325 Districts have been selected for the implementation of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana.