Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

As the number of senior citizens continues to grow, access to proper healthcare, safe housing, nutritious food, social support and other essential services becomes increasingly important. Older people may also need additional support because of age-related disabilities, limited family support or other difficulties associated with ageing. To address these needs and promote a better quality of life for elderly persons, the Government of India provides support through various programmes under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)).

Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) is an umbrella scheme of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. It was made effective from 1 April 2021 after restructuring the earlier National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC). The scheme aims to create a supportive environment in which senior citizens can live a healthy, safe, active and dignified life.

Instead of providing one common benefit to every senior citizen, Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) brings together different programmes that address different needs of elderly persons. These include support for Senior Citizen Homes and care services, state-level programmes, free assistive devices for eligible senior citizens with age-related disabilities, helpline services and opportunities for productive engagement.

The major components of Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) include the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC), State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC), Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), Elderly Support Helpline and Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE). Each component has its own eligibility conditions, type of assistance and application process.

Through these programmes, the government seeks to address important aspects of ageing, including healthcare, nutrition, shelter, safety, social participation and access to suitable support services. The scheme also encourages active and productive ageing so that senior citizens can continue to participate in society according to their abilities and circumstances.

How Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana Works

AVYAY provides assistance to eligible Implementing Agencies such as State/UT Governments, Panchayati Raj Institutions, local bodies and eligible NGOs/Voluntary Organizations. The assistance is used to provide services and programmes according to the needs of senior citizens.

The support mainly covers:

• Food, shelter and healthcare for destitute senior citizens.
• Institutional and non-institutional care and support services.
• Programmes that strengthen relationships between senior citizens and children or youth.
• Activities promoting active and productive ageing.
• Research, advocacy, training and awareness related to ageing.
• Other programmes considered beneficial for senior citizens.

These activities are delivered through different components of Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, each focusing on a particular need of senior citizens.

Major Components of Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana

AVYAY works through different components, with each one focusing on a specific need of senior citizens. The key components and their major areas of support are given below:

Scheme Benefits

Senior citizens can receive different types of support under the various components of Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana. The main benefits include:

• Support for Senior Citizen Homes that provide shelter and care to indigent and vulnerable senior citizens.
• Healthcare support through Senior Citizen Homes, including first aid, medicines, regular health camps and arrangements for emergency medical care.
• Nutritious food providing an average of 1,700 calories and 50 grams of protein per beneficiary every day in supported Senior Citizen Homes.
• Under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), a component of the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, eligible senior citizens with age-related disabilities or infirmities are provided assistive-living devices free of cost. These include:
  • Walking sticks
  • Elbow crutches
  • Walkers and crutches
  • Tripods and quadpods
  • Hearing aids
  • Wheelchairs
  • Artificial dentures
  • Walking sticks
  • Spectacles
• Free support services through Elderly Support Helpline 14567, which is operational in 32 States and Union Territories.
• Support for eligible organisations running Senior Citizen Homes, including recurring assistance of up to ₹42.11 lakh annually for a 50-bed home in X-category cities, as per the prescribed norms.

Eligibility Requirements

Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana has different components, so the eligibility requirements depend on the type of benefit being sought. The main conditions include:

• The scheme broadly focuses on senior citizens aged 60 years and above.
• Under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, the applicant should generally belong to a BPL family or meet the prescribed income limit.
• For RVY, the senior citizen should have an age-related disability or infirmity for which an assistive device is required.
• Under the prescribed RVY income criterion, the monthly income should be up to Rs. 15,000.
• Senior Citizen Homes supported under IPSrC mainly provide services to indigent and vulnerable senior citizens who need care and institutional support.
• For programmes implemented by State or Union Territory governments, the eligibility may vary according to the concerned state or programme.
• NGOs and voluntary organisations applying for support under IPSrC must meet the conditions given in the applicable Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana guidelines.

Required Documents

The documents required depend on the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana component and the type of assistance. For benefits such as RVY, applicants may need the following documents:

• Aadhaar Card
• Income Certificate, where applicable
• Ration Card
• PAN Card, where applicable
• Age and identity proof
• Passportsize Photograph
• Medical or disability-related documents, where required
• Any other document requested by the concerned authority or implementing agency

Steps to Apply

Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) is an umbrella scheme that brings together different programmes for the care, support and empowerment of senior citizens. Therefore, there is no single application form or common process for all its benefits. The application method depends on the particular component, service or programme through which the benefit is provided.

For example, eligible senior citizens can access assistive devices through the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), seek assistance through Elderly Support Helpline 14567, while eligible organisations can apply for Grant-in-Aid under the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC). State-level programmes may have a separate process decided by the concerned State/UT government.

The main application routes under Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana and its related components are explained below.

1. Apply for Assistive Devices under RVY

Senior citizens who need assistive devices under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) are generally identified and assessed through assessment camps organised with the support of the State Government and District Administration.

1. Check whether you meet the eligibility conditions for RVY.
2. Keep your Aadhaar, income proof, age proof and other required documents ready.
3. Attend the designated assessment camp or follow the instructions issued by your district authority.
4. Participate in the assessment to identify the type of assistive device required.
5. After assessment and verification, the eligible beneficiary is provided the suitable assistive device as per the applicable guidelines.

2. Get Help through Elderly Support Helpline 14567

If you are a senior citizen and need information, guidance or support, you can contact the National Helpline for Senior Citizens, Elderly Support Helpline, directly. No separate online application is required to seek help through the helpline.

1. Call 14567 from your phone.
2. Explain your concern to the Elderly Support Helpline representative.
3. Provide the necessary details so that your issue can be properly understood.
4. The helpline provides information, guidance, emotional support or appropriate assistance depending on the nature of the case.

3. Apply for IPSrC Support as an Organisation

NGOs, trusts and other eligible organisations that want to run projects such as Senior Citizen Homes or Continuous Care Homes can apply for Grant-in-Aid under the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC).

1. Check the latest AVYAY/IPSrC guidelines and confirm that your organisation and proposed project meet the prescribed conditions.
2. Ensure that the organisation fulfils the required registration and social-sector experience criteria.
3. Register or log in to the e-Anudaan portal.
4. Complete the application in the prescribed format.
5. Upload the required registration, financial, project and other supporting documents.
6. Submit the proposal within the applicable application period or cut-off date.
7. The proposal may be examined and inspected at the prescribed levels before being considered further.
8. Eligible proposals go through the prescribed screening and approval process before Grant-in-Aid is sanctioned.

4. Apply under State-Level Programmes

Under the State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC), States and Union Territories prepare and implement programmes according to their local requirements. As a result, the application process may differ from one State/UT to another.

1. Visit the official website of your State/UT Social Welfare, Social Justice or Senior Citizen Welfare Department.
2. Check which senior citizen services or programmes are available in your area.
3. Read the eligibility conditions and application instructions issued by the concerned department.
4. Submit the application through the prescribed online portal, government office or other designated channel.
5. Complete document verification or any other process required by the State/UT authority.

5. Apply for Other Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana-Related Programmes

Some other programmes covered or supported under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana framework may have their own registration or selection process. These may include programmes related to productive engagement, senior-care services or other areas of support.

1. Identify the specific Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana component or related programme you want to access.
2. Visit the official portal or check the latest notification issued for that programme.
3. Check the applicable eligibility and selection conditions.
4. Register or submit the required information through the designated platform or authority.
5. Complete the verification, assessment or selection process, wherever applicable.

Important Points to Remember

• AVYAY is an umbrella scheme and does not provide one common benefit to every senior citizen.
• The benefit, eligibility and application process depend on the particular component.
• Individual senior citizens should use the applicable route such as RVY assessment camps, Elderly Support Helpline or State-level programmes.
• Organisations seeking Grant-in-Aid under IPSrC have to follow the prescribed e-Anudaan process and eligibility conditions.
• The figures related to beneficiaries, devices, projects and coverage are government-reported figures and may change as implementation continues.

Relevant Links

• Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)) Details On Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
• e-Anudaan Portal - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) Guidelines
• NGO Registration Guidelines for Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana

Contact Information

• Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India
• Helpline: Elderly Support Helpline - 14567
• Helpline Timing: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, all days
• e-ANUDAAN Contact Details