ATAL VAYO ABHYUDAY YOJANA – GOVERNMENT SCHEME

News: Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana: Empowering the Elderly for a Dignified Life

 

What's in the news?

       The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana to empower senior citizens in India.

 

Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana:

       National Action Plan for Senior Citizen (NAPSrc) had been revamped, renamed as Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) and subsumed in 2021.

       It is a Central Sector Scheme.

 

Aim:

       To improve the quality of life of the Senior Citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active aging through providing support.

 

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

 

Sub Schemes/Components:

1. Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC): Under this, financial assistance is provided to eligible organizations for running and maintenance of Senior Citizen Homes/ Continuous Care Homes to improve the quality of life of the senior citizens.

2. State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC): Each State/UT is expected to plan and strategize taking into account their local considerations and frame their own State Action Plans for the welfare of their senior citizens.

3. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)

4. Senior Able Citizens for Re-employment in Dignity (SACRED)

5. Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction (AGRASR): Senior Citizens are encouraged to form Self-Help Groups (SHGs), which will provide them with a platform to share the time constructively with each other. To attain financial assistance under the scheme SHGs will function as AGRASR Groups.

6. Senior-care Aging Growth Engine (SAGE) - Silver economy for Senior Citizens

7. ElderlineNational Helpline for Senior Citizens

8. Channelizing the CSR fund for elderly care: It was launched with an objective to channelize the CSR funds in an appropriate manner for elderly care projects. Under Schedule VII of Section 135 of the Companies Act, setting up old age homes, day care centers and such facilities for Senior Citizens is an approved item for CSR funding.

9. Training and capacity building for senior citizens.