Lok Sabha Question No. 3604 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Government Welfare of Senior Citizens
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3604 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2024

## GOVERNMENT WELFARE OF SENIOR CITIZENS

## $3604. SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any scheme for the number of elderly people which will increase naturally in the future with the population of the Country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, whether the Government proposes to formulate any such scheme;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, and
- (e) the manner in which financial assistance is provided by the Government to old age homes running across the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

- (a) & (b): The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing a umbrella scheme Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY). The Scheme has following components:-
- Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) - Grant in aid is provided to Non-Governmental/ Voluntary Organisations for running and maintenance of senior citizen homes (old age homes), continuous care homes, etc. Facilities like shelter, nutrition, medicare and entertainments are provided free of cost to indigent senior citizens
- ii. State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC)- Under State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC), the Government perceives a major and critical role of all State Governments in partnering and implementing the Action Plan for welfare of senior citizens. Grant in aid is provided to States/ UTs for activities like awareness generation, sensitization, cataract surgeries and State specific activities.
- iii. Elderline - The National Helpline for Senior Citizens aims is to generate awareness about the Act, schemes & programmes being executed by different Central & State Governments and to provide platform to redress grievances of Senior Citizens across the country.
- iv. Rastriya Vayoshree Yojana (RVY) - 'Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)' objective is to provide senior citizens, belonging to BPL category or the senior citizen with the monthly income not more than Rs. 15,000/- and suffering from age related disabilities/ infirmities, with such physical aids and assisted living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions. The scheme was launched on 01.04.2017. The Scheme is implemented through the 'Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO)', (a Central Public Sector Enterprise) as the sole implementing Agency.
- V. Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine(SAGE) - SAGE objective is to promote out-ofthe-box and innovative solutions for the commonly faced problems, innovative startups would be identified and encouraged for developing products, processes and services for the welfare of the elderly. The selection of the start-ups would be made through a transparent process and the fund would be provided as equity, subject to the Government investment not exceeding 49% of the total equity of the Firm.
- vii. Other Initiatives for Senior Citizens: In order to solve the problems of healthy and productive ageing, several initiatives are being done across the country. The proposed initiatives are aimed at involving the elders in building up knowledge which can be useful for the society as a whole.
- vi. Training of Geriatric Care Givers- The main objective is to bridge the gap in supply and increasing demand in the field of geriatric caregivers so as to provide more professional services to the senior citizens and also to create a cadre of professional care givers in the field of geriatrics.

(c) & (d): Does not arise.

- (e): The grant-in-aid to the old age homes is released under the scheme component of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens ( IPSrC). As per the scheme guidelines, annual grant to the selected organizations is released in two equal half yearly instalments. Second instalment is released after receipt of Inspection Report of the Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) and submission of other requisite documents by the grantee organization.

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