Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Vijay Sampla has informed that Rashtrya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) is a Central Sector Scheme. Under this Scheme, aids and assistive living devices are provided to senior citizens belonging to BPL category who suffer from age related disabilities such as low vision, hearing impairment, loss of teeth and loco-moto disabilities. The aids and assistive devices viz. walking-sticks, elbow-crutches, walkers, tripods/quad-pods, hearing aids, wheelchairs, artificial dentures and spectacles are provided to eligible beneficiaries.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India is the nodal Ministry to oversee the implementation of the Scheme. The Scheme is being implemented by the “Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO)”, a Public Sector Undertaking under this Ministry. The State Governments/ UT Administrations identifies the Beneficiaries in each district through the Committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector. The State Government/UT Administration/District Level Committee utilises the data of BPL beneficiaries receiving Old Age Pension under the NSAP or any other Scheme of the State/UT for identification of senior citizens belonging to BPL category. The devices are distributed in the camp mode to the identified beneficiaries. The National launch of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana was held at Nellore (A.P.) on 1st April, 2017. A total of 187 districts from all States/UTs have been selected for Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana distribution camps. As on date, 16 distribution camps have been organized at district level.