Keralam Vayoraksha Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Keralam Vayoraksha Scheme, officially listed as the Vayoraksha Scheme for Senior Citizens, is a crisis-support programme of the Social Justice Department, Government of Kerala. Instead of paying a fixed monthly amount, the scheme steps in when an elderly person from a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family faces a sudden emergency, such as a medical crisis, an accident, abuse, abandonment, or a natural disaster. The department describes social security for senior citizens as a basic human right and not charity, and Vayoraksha puts that idea into practice by funding urgent help at the district level.

The government introduced Vayoraksha to address the grievances of senior citizens during a crisis. Its objective is to support needy elderly people in difficult times, provide emergency medical aid to destitute and downtrodden older persons, arrange caregivers for bedridden senior citizens, rehabilitate those who need care and protection, offer legal aid, and create a safe environment that protects their physical and mental well-being. In short, the scheme aims to make sure no poor senior citizen in Kerala is left without help when an emergency strikes.

Under the Vayoraksha scheme, the department can spend funds on emergency first aid, surgery, medical treatment, ambulance service, caregiver support, assistive devices, and rehabilitation. It also covers the medical examination, rehabilitation and institutional care of destitute, wandering and bereaved senior citizens, emergency medical aid and food for elderly victims of natural calamities, and urgent medical care for those affected by abuse, accidents or life-threatening burns. Where a senior citizen's life or property faces danger, the authorities can also take remedial measures under the scheme.

Applications for the Keralam Vayoraksha Scheme do not follow a fixed annual window. Eligible senior citizens or their families can approach the District Social Justice Office whenever an emergency arises. 

The District Social Justice Officer (DSJO) runs the scheme at the district level. The DSJO can sanction expenditure up to ₹25,000. Spending above ₹25,000 and up to ₹2 lakh needs prior approval from a district monitoring committee chaired by the District Collector, while any amount above ₹2 lakh needs prior sanction from the State Government. These limits only decide who approves the expense. They do not fix the amount an individual beneficiary receives, because the assistance depends on the actual need in each case.

Besides the Keralam Vayoraksha Scheme, the Kerala government is also implementing other initiatives to provide health benefits and social security to citizens, including the Keralam Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme, which offers comprehensive health coverage to eligible families, and the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi Scheme, designed to deliver free treatment for critical illnesses to economically weaker sections. You can check the complete details of these schemes here.

Vayoraksha Scheme Benefits

The Vayoraksha Scheme provides need-based emergency support to senior citizens, covering the following essential services.

• Emergency medical aid: Support for first aid, surgery, emergency treatment, and COVID-19 treatment.
• Hospital choice: First aid can be received at private hospitals, while specialised treatment should be sought from government hospitals.
• Ambulance service: Assistance with ambulance support during an emergency.
• Caregiver support: Caregivers for bedridden senior citizens who have no one to look after them.
• Assistive devices: Help to buy essential equipment that suits the senior citizen's needs.
• Rehabilitation: Medical examination, rehabilitation, and shifting of destitute, wandering, and bereaved elderly persons to safe care institutions.
• Disaster relief: Emergency medical aid and food for senior citizens affected by natural calamities.
• Abuse and accident support: Emergency medical aid for elderly victims of abuse, accidents, or life-threatening burns.
• Legal aid: Legal assistance for senior citizens who need it.
• Protection: Remedial action when a senior citizen's life or property is at risk.

Financial Assistance and Approval Limits

The scheme does not fix a standard amount per person; instead, the approval authority changes with the size of the expense.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply for the Keralam Vayoraksha Scheme.

• The applicant must be a senior citizen.
• The senior citizen must belong to a BPL family.
• The person must need emergency help, such as medical treatment, caregiver support, rehabilitation, disaster relief, legal aid, or protection from abuse.

Required Documents

Applicants need to keep the following documents ready before applying to the Keralam Vayoraksha Scheme:

• Proof of age or identity of the senior citizen
• BPL ration card or other proof of BPL status
• Medical records, doctor's prescription or treatment estimate (for medical assistance)
• Hospital admission or surgery documents (where applicable)
• Any document that explains the emergency, such as a disaster, accident, or abuse report (where applicable)

Steps to Apply

Vayoraksha follows an offline application process at the district level, accepting requests during emergencies. You can apply by following the steps given below.

• Visit or call the District Social Justice Office in your district. The senior citizen, a family member, a neighbour, or a well-wisher can report the case.
• Clearly describe the situation, whether it is surgery, hospital treatment, ambulance need, caregiver need, abandonment, abuse, an accident, or a natural disaster.
• Ask the office for the application format, if any, and the documents required for your specific case.
• Hand over the application with BPL proof, medical records (if relevant), and other papers requested by the office.
• The DSJO verifies the case and the need for assistance.
• The DSJO sanctions expenses up to ₹25,000 directly. Higher amounts go to the District Monitoring Committee (up to ₹2 lakh) or the State Government (above ₹2 lakh).
• After approval, the office arranges support, such as treatment, ambulance, caregiver, equipment, or rehabilitation.

Relevant Links

• Keralam Vayoraksha Scheme Details
• Social Justice Department, Kerala
• Government of Kerala Portal

Contact Information

• Elderline (Senior Citizen Helpline): 14567
• Social Justice Department, Government of Kerala Helpline Number: 0471-2306040