Lok Sabha Question No. 1531 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: ADIP and Niramaya Schemes
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Dr. Kadiyam Kavya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

## LOK SABHA

## 1531. Dr. Kadiyam Kavya:

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

- (a)  the  support  provided  for  persons  with  disabilities  under  Assistance  to  Persons  with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP) and Niramaya schemes;
- (b) the details of elderly welfare initiatives, including pension enhancements; and
- (c) the details of awareness campaigns on rights and entitlements?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under Ministry of Social Justice and  Empowerment  is  implementing  Scheme  of  'Assistance  to  Persons  with  Disabilities  for Purchase/Fitting  of  Aids  and  Appliances  (ADIP)'  under  which  funds  are  released  to  assist eligible persons with disabilities for procuring durable, sophisticated, and scientifically manufactured,  modern,  standard  aids  and  appliances  that  promote  their  physical,  social  and psychological  rehabilitation  and  enhance  their  economic  potential.   Under  the  scheme,   the various types of aids and appliances are provided with financial assistance  up to ₹15,000,  in case of high-end prosthesis upto ₹30,000/- and in case of  motorized tricycles and wheelchairs , financial assistance of upto ₹50,000/- is being provided .

Niramaya  Health  Insurance  Scheme  implemented  by  Department  since  2008,  gives  a  health cover of Rs. 1 Lakh annually, to cover expenses related to Corrective Surgeries/Other Surgeries, OPD Consultations, Diagnostic Tests, Therapies, Alternative Medicine-AYUSH, etc. details of which are given at Annexure I . The scheme is implemented through Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd.. 66,356 Divyangjans are enrolled in 2025-26 and an expenditure of Rs.9.9 Crore has been made under the scheme till date.

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1531 TO BE ANSWERED ON - 09/12/2025

## ADIP AND NIRAMAYA SCHEMES

(b)  In alignment with the principles of active and healthy ageing and to ensure dignified living for the elderly, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) is implementing the umbrella scheme Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY). AVYAY seeks to provide comprehensive and integrated services through a convergence of various interventions  for elderly welfare.The details of the components of the AVYAY Scheme are -

## (i) Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)

This  component  provides  basic  amenities  like  shelter,  food,  medical  care  and  entertainment opportunities  and  by  encouraging  productive  and  active  ageing  through  providing  support  for capacity  building.  Assistance  under  the  scheme  is  given  to  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions/local bodies and eligible Non-Governmental Voluntary Organisations. Since FY 2014-15, over 10.20 lakh senior citizens have been supported under this scheme.

(ii) State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC)-This scheme provides financial assistance to States/UTs  to  carry  out  State-specific  activities  such  as  awareness  campaigns,  sensitization programmes, cataract surgeries, and other welfare measures for senior citizens.

(iii)  Rashtriya  Vayoshri  Yojana  (RVY):This  scheme  was  launched  in  2017  to  assist  senior citizens belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category or those with a monthly income not exceeding ₹15,000, who suffer from  any age-related disability  or infirmity.Under the scheme, assistive  devices such  as walking  sticks, wheelchairs,  spectacles, hearing aids, etc., are distributed free of cost.

(iv)  Elderline  -  National  Helpline  for  Senior  Citizens  (NHSC)-toll-  free  number  (14567), operational since 01.10.2021 that provides free Information, Guidance, Emotional Support and Field Intervention in cases of abuse and rescues in order to improve the quality of life of senior citizens.

(v) Training of Geriatric Care Givers: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 givers in the field of geriatrics. This scheme was launched in the FY 2023-24.

## (vi) Other Initiatives for Senior Citizens

-  MoU with the Ministry of AYUSH - to enable senior citizens to benefit from AYUSH systems of healthcare.
-  MoU with Prajapita Brahma Kumaris - to promote holistic well-being of senior citizens through spirituality.
-  Development of a 'Vriddha Mitra Toolkit' (Elder Companion Toolkit).
-  Organization of Grandparents-Teachers Meetings in schools to promote intergenerational bonding.
-  Celebration of International Day of Older Persons through activities such as talk series, walkathons, and pledge events.
-  MoU with Dementia India Alliance (DIA) - for improving the quality of life of elderly persons  living  with  dementia  in  old  age  homes  through  online  memory  screening, training of staff, and analysis of data.
-  MoU with Vyay Vikas (VV) - to enhance awareness and promote Government welfare schemes among senior citizens.
-  Awareness and Educational Programmes - including workshops, seminars, podcasts, and community outreach to inform senior citizens about benefits and eligibility of schemes.
-  Digital and Financial Literacy Curriculum - development of customized training material and structured sessions for digital and financial inclusion of senior citizens.
-  Support for Old Age Homes - assisting old age homes in understanding and achieving the Minimum Standards, with a focus on soft interventions.

As  far  as  pension  to  elderly  citizens  and  persons  with  disabilities  is  concerned, National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a social security programme implemented by Ministry of Rural Development for most vulnerable persons of society living below poverty line, both in rural  and  urban  areas.  Under  the  programme,  the  old  aged,  widows,  and  disabled  persons belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and fulfilling eligibility criteria prescribed in the NSAP guidelines,  are  provided  financial  assistance,  in  form  of  pension,  ranging  from  Rs.200/-  to Rs.500/- p.m. and in the case of death of the breadwinner of such family, a lump sum assistance of Rs. 20,000/- is given to the bereaved family.One of the components under the scheme is Indira Gandhi  National  Old  Age  Pension  Scheme  under  which  assistance  of  ₹  200/-  per  month  to persons in the age group of 60-79 years and ₹500/- per month to persons of 80 years and above is provided.

At present, no such proposal of pension enhancement is under consideration

(c)  The  Department  of  Empowerment of Persons with  Disabilities  under  Ministry  of  Social Justice  and  Empowerment  supports  outreach  initiatives  by  institutions,  government  bodies, educational institutions, and registered NGOs/organizations.

The  Department  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  under  the  Ministry  is  implementing  the Atal  Vayo  Abhyudaya  Yojana  (AVYAY)  and provides  financial  assistance  to  States/UTs  to carry  out  State-specific  activities  such  as  awareness  campaigns,  sensitization  programmes, cataract surgeries, and other welfare measures for senior citizens.

*****

## Annexure-I

| Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1531 to be answered on 09.12.2025 regarding 'ADIP and Niramaya Schemes"   | Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1531 to be answered on 09.12.2025 regarding 'ADIP and Niramaya Schemes"   | Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1531 to be answered on 09.12.2025 regarding 'ADIP and Niramaya Schemes"                                                                                                                 | Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1531 to be answered on 09.12.2025 regarding 'ADIP and Niramaya Schemes"   | Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1531 to be answered on 09.12.2025 regarding 'ADIP and Niramaya Schemes"   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Section                                                                                                                                                | Sub- Section                                                                                                                                           | Detail                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Sub Limit                                                                                                                                              | Overall                                                                                                                                                |
| I                                                                                                                                                      | Overall Limit of Hospitalization                                                                                                                       | Overall Limit of Hospitalization                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Overall Limit of Hospitalization                                                                                                                       | 55,000/-                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                                                        | A                                                                                                                                                      | Corrective Surgeries for existing Disability including Congenital disability (Under SECI(A) a maximum capping of Rs. 15,000/- For other than the corrective surgeries for Existing Disabilities, which is included in the overall limit of Rs. 40,000/- of Sec I(A)) | 40,000/-                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                        |
|                                                                                                                                                        | B                                                                                                                                                      | Non Surgical / Hospitalization                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 15,000                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                        |
| * II                                                                                                                                                   | Overall Limit for Out Patient Department (OPD)                                                                                                         | Overall Limit for Out Patient Department (OPD)                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | Overall Limit for Out Patient Department (OPD)                                                                                                         | 19,000/-                                                                                                                                               |
|                                                                                                                                                        | A                                                                                                                                                      | OPD Treatment including the medicines, pathology, diagnostic tests, etc.                                                                                                                                                                                             | 15,000/-                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                        |
|                                                                                                                                                        | B                                                                                                                                                      | Dental Preventive Dentistry                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 4,000/-                                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                        |
| ** III                                                                                                                                                 | Ongoing Therapies to reduce impact of disability                                                                                                       | Ongoing Therapies to reduce impact of disability                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Ongoing Therapies to reduce impact of disability                                                                                                       | 20,000/-                                                                                                                                               |
| IV                                                                                                                                                     | Alternative Medicine- AYUSH                                                                                                                            | Alternative Medicine- AYUSH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Alternative Medicine- AYUSH                                                                                                                            | 4,000/-                                                                                                                                                |
| V                                                                                                                                                      | Transportation Costs                                                                                                                                   | Transportation Costs                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Transportation Costs                                                                                                                                   | 2,000/-                                                                                                                                                |
| OVERALL LIMIT OF THE COVERAGE OF A PERSON : Rs. 1,00,000/-                                                                                             | OVERALL LIMIT OF THE COVERAGE OF A PERSON : Rs. 1,00,000/-                                                                                             | OVERALL LIMIT OF THE COVERAGE OF A PERSON : Rs. 1,00,000/-                                                                                                                                                                                                           | OVERALL LIMIT OF THE COVERAGE OF A PERSON : Rs. 1,00,000/-                                                                                             | OVERALL LIMIT OF THE COVERAGE OF A PERSON : Rs. 1,00,000/-                                                                                             |

*  Need for original reports / films like MRI, X-ray,  ultrasounds etc. - Original documents are required including the film for settling of Claims.
- **  Prescription  for  Ongoing  Therapies-  Doctor's  prescription  at  least  once  in  Six  months  is essential in which the category of therapy and duration of therapy should be clearly mentioned. Thereafter other documents from Rehabilitation Professional for therapy and related bills will be acceptable. Doctor who prescribes the prescription should be a valid medical Practitioner with valid license/degree as per Medical council rules.