Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme, operated under the Bihar Government's Social Welfare Department, aims to provide safe shelter, necessary care, and basic facilities to destitute and poor elderly persons. Under this scheme, there is a provision for the construction and operation of old age homes named "SAHARA", where eligible elderly persons are provided free accommodation along with arrangements to meet their daily needs. The scheme provides food, clothing, and medical facilities to elderly persons residing in these old age homes, so that economically or socially helpless elderly persons can receive necessary assistance in a safe environment.

The Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme is not limited only to accommodation facilities. It also includes recreational facilities, keeping in view the physical and social needs of elderly persons. In addition, provision has been made for employment-oriented training for elderly persons who are physically capable. The objective is to connect capable elderly persons with useful activities according to their abilities. Thus, the scheme provides shelter while also addressing the health, daily needs, and social well-being of elderly persons.

The eligibility under this scheme mainly relates to destitute elderly persons aged 60 years or above. Regarding economic status, the document provides for families belonging to the BPL category or having an annual income below ₹60,000. The Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme has been operated as a 100% state scheme, and the assistance under the scheme is provided in the form of facilities available at the old age home. It is not a scheme providing a fixed monthly pension or cash assistance. Therefore, it should be distinguished from Bihar Old Age Pension and other social security pension schemes.

According to the available provisions of the Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme, applications are to be submitted on plain paper to the District Social Security Cell, after which the application is considered by the designated committee. Information regarding the availability of shelter can also be obtained from the concerned district-level authorities.

The Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme primarily provides destitute and poor elderly persons with accommodation, food, clothing, medical care, and other care facilities. In addition, other social security schemes of the Social Welfare Department are also active, with separate benefits and eligibility conditions. These include the Bihar State Disability Pension Scheme for persons with 40% or more disability, the Mukhyamantri Old Age Pension Yojana for elderly persons aged 60 years or above, and the Bihar Shatabdi AIDS Pirit Kalyan Yojana for AIDS-affected persons aged 18 years or above. These schemes focus on financial assistance, whereas the Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme is based on shelter and care.

Scheme Benefits

Eligible beneficiaries receive the following benefits under the Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme:

• Destitute elderly persons are provided free accommodation and shelter under the scheme.
• Food facilities are provided to elderly persons at the shelter.
• Clothing is arranged for elderly persons residing at the old age home.
• Medical facilities and healthcare are provided to elderly persons as required.
• Recreational facilities are available for elderly persons residing at the shelter.
• Employment-oriented training is provided to make elderly persons self-reliant.
• Elderly persons are provided training according to their abilities in activities such as making incense sticks, making candles, handicrafts such as stitching and mat weaving, making cow-dung cakes, etc.
• The objective of the Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme is to improve the quality of life of destitute and poor elderly persons by providing them with a safe environment and necessary care.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must fulfil the prescribed eligibility conditions to apply under the scheme.

• The applicant must be a permanent resident of Bihar.
• The applicant must be 60 years of age or above.
• The applicant's annual income must not exceed ₹60,000 per year.
• Applicants belonging to BPL families are also eligible for the scheme.
• The following elderly persons are eligible under the scheme:
  • Those who are completely destitute.
  • Those who have no source of income or livelihood.
  • Those who have no family heir or relative.

Required Documents

The following documents are required to avail the benefits of the Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme:

• Proof of residence/permanent residence certificate in Bihar
• Aadhaar Card
• Age proof
• Income certificate/proof of income
• BPL certificate, if applicable
• Passport-size photograph of the applicant
• Mobile number

Application Process

The application process for the Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme is offline, making it possible for needy elderly persons to apply without technical difficulties. The application process is completed through the following steps:

• The applicant can submit an application on plain paper to the District Social Security Cell.
• After submission to the District Social Security Cell, the application is placed before the committee constituted under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate, as per the official provisions.
• The committee approves the admission of eligible elderly persons to the old age home.
• After approval, the eligible elderly person may be provided accommodation in an available old age home along with the facilities prescribed under the scheme.

Grievance Redressal Process

The official scheme document for the Old Age Home (SAHARA) also mentions a grievance redressal mechanism. According to it:

• Sub-Divisional Level: Complaints/appeals can be submitted to the office of the Public Grievance Redressal Officer.
• District Level: Complaints can be submitted to the office of the District Public Grievance Redressal Officer.
• Other District-Level Channel: Complaints can also be registered at the office of the District Magistrate.
• State Level: Complaints can be submitted to the office of the Director, Directorate of Social Security, and other concerned senior officials of the Social Welfare Department.

Old Age Homes

Eligible beneficiaries can avail facilities at the following old age homes under the scheme:

Important Links

• Bihar Elderly Portal
• Bihar Social Welfare Department Portal
• Bihar Old Age Home (SAHARA) Scheme Guidelines

Contact Information

• Bihar Social Welfare Department Contact Details
• Bihar Directorate of Social Security Helpline: 0612-2280373
• Bihar Directorate of Social Security Helpdesk Email: [email protected]