When was Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana launched?

The RVY scheme was launched on April 1, 2017.

Which population is covered under the Vayoshri Yojana?

The Below Poverty Line population is covered under the scheme to avail its benefits.

Which Ministry is responsible for administering the RYV scheme?

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the responsible ministry for the implementation of this scheme.

Which organisation is implementing this scheme?

The Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing the scheme.

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What Is The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY scheme)?

Neha Gupta

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Updated: 25-04-2025 at 12:31 PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana in 2017. Under this Sarkari scheme, the government wants to support the elderly by providing them with life-sustaining devices. The government will provide high-quality products to the market as per the Bureau of Indian Standards.

In this article, we will give you all the information about the Rashtriya Vayoshri Scheme. So read till the end to understand and avail of the benefits of this government scheme.

Overview

Section	Details
Scheme Name	Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)
Launch Year	2017
Launched By	Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Objective	To provide free assisted-living devices and physical aids to elderly BPL citizens suffering from age-related disabilities
Target Group	BPL senior citizens aged 60+ with disabilities (vision, hearing, mobility, loss of teeth)
Types of Devices Provided	Walking sticks, crutches, walkers, hearing aids, dentures, spectacles
Funding	100% funded by the Central Government through the 'Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund'
Eligibility Criteria	Age 60+, BPL category, income/pension below ₹15,000, must have a valid Aadhaar card and a medical certificate for disability
Documents Required	Aadhaar card, medical certificate (for vision, hearing, dental, or locomotor disability)

What Is Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana?

As you all know, older citizens need support after the age of 60. Some elderly people are supported by their children in their old age, while for other elderly people, the central government has launched the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana. Under this programme, wheelchairs, walking sticks, crutches, artificial dentures, spectacles and other aids are provided free of charge to elderly people living below the poverty line. The Indian government bears the entire expenditure for this scheme.

Latest News On Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

On the occasion of International Day of Older Persons on October 1, 2024, the Union Minister of Dr Virendra Kumar of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment presided over the celebrations organised in New Delhi, India. Under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, the Union Minister inaugurated the camps for the distribution of assistive devices to senior citizens to mark the celebrations.

The camps organised in 20 states across India benefited over 21,000 senior citizens. Physical aids and assistive devices worth Rs 15 crore were distributed to support senior citizens with disabilities in independent living.

What Is The Aim and Objective Of The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana?

As per the report of 2011 census of India, India has 10. 38 crore senior citizens. More than three-quarters reside in the countryside, while 52 per cent of the affected are people with disabilities who are elderly.

For these elderly citizens, the Government of India started this scheme to enable them to get physical aids and other assisted living devices to help them deal with their disability.

What Is The Scope Of Rashtriy Vayoshri Yojana?

The target segment of the scheme is BPL senior citizens who may have to face issues like vision impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, toothless or physically challenged.

This means that even a certificate from any government doctor would enable one to get help like hearing aids, dentures, wheelchairs, and other basic gadgets.

Key Features

Here are the significant features of the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, including its coverage, physical aids offered, and the extent of support.

Types Of Disability And Infirmity Covered Under Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

The below mentioned table showcases the types of disability and infirmity addressed by the yojana:

Disability/Infirmity	Description	Assisted-Living Devices
Low Vision	Impaired vision that cannot be fully corrected with standard glasses or contact lenses	Devices to improve sight and restore near-normal vision.
Hearing Impairment	Partial or total inability to hear sound	Hearing aids or devices to enhance hearing capabilities.
Loss Of Teeth	Missing or damaged teeth that affect chewing and speaking	Dentures or prosthetic devices to restore dental function.
Locomotor Disability	Difficulty or inability to move due to problems with muscles, joints, or nerves	Mobility aids like wheelchairs, walkers, or prosthetic limbs.

Types Of Physical Aids And Assisted-Living Devices Provided

Senior citizens with physical disabilities will receive the following aids and devices under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, based on their needs:

Walking sticks
Elbow crutches
Only walkers or ordinary crutches may be used.
Tripods Or quad pods
Hearing aids
Artificial dentures
Spectacles

What Is The Extent Of Support Provided By The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana?

By the following points, the extent of support provided by the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana:-

The scheme is fully funded by the Central Government through the 'Senior Citizens' Welfare Fund.'
Eligible seniors will receive free physical aids and devices based on their specific disabilities.
If a person has more than one disability, they will receive devices for each condition.
The agency will provide free maintenance for these devices for one year.

How Is The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana Implemented?

Under this scheme, only those people are eligible to get the benefits that have registered with the ‘ALIMCO Mitra’ application. For serving eligible seniors ALIMCO has tied up with district or state governments to conduct the assessment camps. The devices are then delivered to special camps in specific districts. In particular, for seniors of 80 years and older, the devices are delivered to their homes.

What Is The Present Status And Coverage Of The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana?

At present, a total of 325 Districts have been selected for the implementation of the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana. The assessment camps to identify the beneficiaries have been completed in 135 districts of which (as of 25.01.2019), 77 distribution camps have been organised benefitting 70,939 senior citizens belonging to the BPL Category.

Here is the Name list of District Covered in the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

Benefits

The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana provides free assistive devices to elderly individuals with disabilities, ensuring a better quality of life. Below are the key benefits of this scheme:-

If a person has more than one disability, more than one assistive device is provided to him or her.
The government will provide free maintenance of assistive devices and appliances for assisted living for one year.
As far as possible, 30% of the beneficiaries in each district will be women.
The device will be provided to those who have undergone medical checkups.
This govt scheme will benefit elderly people living below the poverty line.
The beneficiaries in each district will be decided by a committee headed by the district collector or deputy commissioner.

Documents Needed

The following list contains the names of all the important documents required for the Rashtriya Vayshri Yojana:-:

Proof of Identity: Aadhaar card, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving License
Proof of BPL Status:
Certificate from the District Authority, or
BPL Ration Card, or
Proof of receiving Old Age Pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), or
Proof of receiving any other pension for senior citizens from the State/UT Government
Medical Certificate: A certificate from a Medical Officer for issues like vision loss, hearing impairment, missing teeth, or needing a wheelchair due to mobility problems.

Eligibility Criteria

Livelihood assistance under this government scheme is available to persons who fulfil all the conditions. The eligibility criteria are mentioned below for people wanting to apply for the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana.

The person must be over 60 years of age.
The beneficiaries must be in the BPL category.
They must have a monthly income or pension of less than Rs 15,000.
They must suffer from an age-related disability or infirmity, such as poor eyesight, loss of teeth, hearing impairment, and reduced mobility.
The person must have a valid Aadhaar card.
Only economically weak families from BPL and APL categories are eligible under this govt scheme.
Medical certificate of hearing or visual impairment, loss of teeth, or locomotor disability requiring the use of a wheelchair.

Application Process

If you wish to apply for the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana online, follow the steps below to process your application.

Step 1: Firstly, visit the official website of the Ministry of Justice and Social Welfare.

Step 2: After visiting the official website, you will be redirected to the home page.

Step 3: On this home page, you will see the Vayoshri registration option.

Step 4: After clicking on this option, the next page will open.

Step 5: On this page, you will see the registration form. You need to fill out the form with information like your name, age, city, mobile number, date of birth, etc.

Step 6: After providing all the options, you need to upload all the required documents and enter the captcha code. Then click on the Submit button.

How To Check The Status Of Your Application For Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana?

The following steps will successfully lead you to the ways from which you can check the status of your application:-

Go to the official website of the govt scheme.
After you have accessed the official website, the home page will open.
On this home page, you will see the Track & View option, which you need to click.
After clicking on this option, the next page will open.
On this page, you will need to enter your registration number, among other things.
Then click on the search button.
The status of the application will then be displayed.

Conclusion

In Conclusion, The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana serves as a beneficial programme which gives free assistive devices to those who need them. The scheme provides accessibility to application processes as it enables elderly people to navigate life comfortably without assistance.

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