Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
(a) the objectives of launching the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY);
(b) the details of districts selected under RVY along with the criteria for selection, State-wise;
(c) the number of camps organised since the inception of the yojana as on 30.6.2018 and planned for the current financial year along with the financial allocation under the yojana and the number of senior citizens benefited so far and the steps being taken to include all the remaining districts;
(d) the eligibility criteria for vayoshreshtha samman award and the details of number of categories conferred award for outstanding contribution towards the cause of elderly persons;
(e) whether the Ministry has held 3rd meeting of National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC) recently, if so, the issues deliberated and the outcome of the meeting;
(f) the financial outlay for senior citizen welfare fund during the current financial year; and
(g) whether the Government has any estimate on the number of senior citizens who are suffering from some sort of disabilities in their old age and if so, the details thereof, State-wise?
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3426 ANSWERED ON: 07.08.2018
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
RAJIV PRATAP RUDY
PRATHAP SIMHA
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:-
(a) the objectives of launching the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY);
(b) the details of districts selected under RVY along with the criteria for selection, State-wise;
(c) the number of camps organised since the inception of the yojana as on 30.6.2018 and planned for the current financial year along with the financial allocation under the yojana and the number of senior citizens benefited so far and the steps being taken to include all the remaining districts;
(d) the eligibility criteria for vayoshreshtha samman award and the details of number of categories conferred award for outstanding contribution towards the cause of elderly persons;
(e) whether the Ministry has held 3rd meeting of National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC) recently, if so, the issues deliberated and the outcome of the meeting;
(f) the financial outlay for senior citizen welfare fund during the current financial year; and
(g) whether the Government has any estimate on the number of senior citizens who are suffering from some sort of disabilities in their old age and if so, the details thereof, State-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)
(a): The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been implementing a scheme for providing physical aids and Assisted Living Devices for Senior Citizens belonging to BPL category named “Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)” since 1st April, 2017 with the objective of providing Senior Citizens, belonging to BPL category and suffering from age related disabilities/ infirmities, with such physical aids and assisted living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions. Under the Scheme, assisted living devices such as Walking Sticks, Elbow Crutches, Walkers/ Crutches, Tripods/ Quadpods, Hearing Aids, Wheelchairs, Artificial Dentures and Spectacles are provided free of cost to the beneficiary senior citizens.
(b): The districts where age related disabilities/infirmities are more prevalent among senior citizens has been given priority and the Aspirational districts as identified by NITI Aayog have also been included. So far, 292 districts have been selected. A list of selected districts is at Annexure –1.
(c): As on 30/06/2018, a total of 42 Distribution Camps have been organised. 45774 senior citizens have been benefited by distribution of 1,02,323 physical aids and assistive devices. 150 districts are planned for the organisation of Assessment/Distribution camps in this financial year. In the current Financial Year, an amount of Rs. 1.5 crore has been released and an amount of Rs. 106.89 crore has been sought from Department of Economic Affairs under Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund. In future, the Scheme will be extended to cover all districts of India.
(d): The Vayoshreshtha Sammans are conferred in 13 categories among which 7 categories are “Institutional” and 6 categories are “Individual”. The details of category-wise eligibility criteria is at Annexure 2.
(e): The third meeting of the National Council of Senior Citizens was held on 13th June 2018. The meeting discussed the issues such as (i) Amendments to the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007, (ii) Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana: A Scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-Living Devices for Senior Citizens belonging to BPL Category, (iii) Revised Scheme of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC), (iv) National Award/Vayoshreshtha Samman, 2018 (v) Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund, (vi) Financial assistance under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Schemes (IGNOAPS), (vii) Social Security to Senior Citizens, (viii) Facilities at Railway Stations and (ix) Bridging of Inter-generational Gap. The suggestions of the Council on the issues are being examined.
(f): As per information furnished by Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs, as on date the principal amount available in Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund (SCWF) is Rs. 452.09 crore.
(g): As per Census 2011 data, the number of Senior Citizens in the Country suffering from disabilities in their old age is 53,76,619. The State/UT wise distribution is given in Annexure 3.
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Source: Loksabha
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