PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SCHEMES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, implements a scheme namely Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) to cater various requirements of the senior citizens. The two major components of the Scheme are: The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had launched the National Program for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE) during 2010-11 to address various health related problems of Elderly people. To mark the ‘International Day of Older Persons’, in October, 2024, a total of 44279 healthcare camps were conducted and healthcare services were provided to 9,15,100 elder persons. Also, Healthcare Camps were conducted in 3904 Old Age Homes across the country and 33049 elderly persons were provided healthcare services during the camps. National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an autonomous body of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, organises health camps for community senior citizens and also conducts training for the family members on primary care. Further, the Ministry of Rural Development also implements National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) across the country as a social security programme, primarily meant for vulnerable sections of the society such as old aged, widows, and disabled persons belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL). NSAP comprises of three pension schemes – old age, widow and disabled pension schemes and two demand based schemes – National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and Annapurna scheme. Under the program, the elderly, widow, persons belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and meeting eligibility criteria are provided financial assistance ranging from Rs.200/- to Rs.500/- p.m. to persons in the age group of 60-79 years and ₹ 500/- per month to persons of 80 years and above. To enhance skills of Persons with Disabilities and to enable them to have gainful employment and to become self-reliant, productive and contribute members of society and stand up on their own feet, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities launched the National Action Plan for Skill Development of Persons with Disabilities (NAP-SDP) in March 2015. Under NAP-SDP. Skill training is imparted to persons through various Government and Non-Government Organizations. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePWD) also launched PM-DAKSH Portal-DePwD in September 2023 for effective implementation of National Action Plan for Skill Development of PwDs (NAP-SDP). This portal is a one-stop digital destination for PwDs, who need skilling and employment, and for Training organizations and Employers/job aggregators of PwDs. Further, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) provides financial assistance to the voluntary Organizations for running various projects for the welfare/empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L. VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. ***** VM The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, implements a scheme namely Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) to cater various requirements of the senior citizens. The two major components of the Scheme are: The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had launched the National Program for Healthcare of the Elderly (NPHCE) during 2010-11 to address various health related problems of Elderly people. To mark the ‘International Day of Older Persons’, in October, 2024, a total of 44279 healthcare camps were conducted and healthcare services were provided to 9,15,100 elder persons. Also, Healthcare Camps were conducted in 3904 Old Age Homes across the country and 33049 elderly persons were provided healthcare services during the camps. National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an autonomous body of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, organises health camps for community senior citizens and also conducts training for the family members on primary care. Further, the Ministry of Rural Development also implements National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) across the country as a social security programme, primarily meant for vulnerable sections of the society such as old aged, widows, and disabled persons belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL). NSAP comprises of three pension schemes – old age, widow and disabled pension schemes and two demand based schemes – National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and Annapurna scheme. Under the program, the elderly, widow, persons belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and meeting eligibility criteria are provided financial assistance ranging from Rs.200/- to Rs.500/- p.m. to persons in the age group of 60-79 years and ₹ 500/- per month to persons of 80 years and above. To enhance skills of Persons with Disabilities and to enable them to have gainful employment and to become self-reliant, productive and contribute members of society and stand up on their own feet, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities launched the National Action Plan for Skill Development of Persons with Disabilities (NAP-SDP) in March 2015. Under NAP-SDP. Skill training is imparted to persons through various Government and Non-Government Organizations. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePWD) also launched PM-DAKSH Portal-DePwD in September 2023 for effective implementation of National Action Plan for Skill Development of PwDs (NAP-SDP). This portal is a one-stop digital destination for PwDs, who need skilling and employment, and for Training organizations and Employers/job aggregators of PwDs. Further, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) provides financial assistance to the voluntary Organizations for running various projects for the welfare/empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L. VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. ***** VM