Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment introduced the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) scheme to provide assisted-living devices and physical aids for senior citizens belonging to the BPL category.

The RVY was launched on 1 April 2017 with the objective to provide physical aids and assisted-living devices to BPL category senior citizens suffering from age-related infirmities or disabilities to restore near normalcy in the bodily functions and overcome their disability or infirmity manifested. 

The purpose of the RVY is to benefit the elderly poor section of the society facing difficulties in walking with increasing age. The RVY is a Central Sector Scheme entirely funded by the Central Government.

The expenditure for implementing the RVY scheme will be met from the ‘Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund’. The RVY scheme is implemented through the sole implementing agency, i.e. Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Features of RVY

• The physical aids, equipment, or assisted-living devices are distributed free of cost to all the beneficiaries.
• In case a person has more than one disability, more than one device is provided to the beneficiary.
• The ALIMCO provides free maintenance of physical aids and assisted-living equipment for one year. 
• The beneficiaries in every district will be identified by the respective state government or UT Administration through a committee headed by the District Collector or Deputy Commissioner.
• As far as possible, 30% of the beneficiaries in every district will be women.
• The equipment will be distributed through camps.
• The number of devices provided to each beneficiary family will depend on the number of beneficiaries in the family. 
• The equipment will be provided to each beneficiary only after a doctor’s examination. 

Eligibility Criteria Under RVY

The assisted living devices under the RVY scheme are provided to the persons who fulfil all the conditions provided below:

• Senior citizens, i.e. persons more than 60 years.
• Belonging to the BPL category. 
• Having a monthly income/pension of less than Rs.15,000.
• Suffering from age-related disability or infirmity, such as low vision, loss of teeth, hearing impairment and locomotor disability.

Devices Provided under the RVY

Under the RVY Scheme, the following assisted living devices are provided to the beneficiaries: 

• Walking sticks. 
• Walkers or crutches.
• Elbow crutches. 
• Tripods or quad pods. 
• Artificial dentures. 
• Wheelchairs.
• Hearing aids.
• Spectacles.

Application Process for RVY

The eligible persons can apply online to obtain the assisted-living devices or equipment by following the below process:

• Download the ‘ALIMCO Mitra’ mobile app from Google Play Store.
• Open the ‘ALIMCO Mitra’ app and click on the ‘New Registration’ button.
• The registration form will appear. Fill the details such as the name, father’s name, Aadhaar number, mobile number, state, district, pin code, full address and click on the ‘Register’ button.
• Next, upload the required documents, fill the captcha code and click on the ‘Submit’ button to complete the registration for RVY.

Documents Required for RVY

• Aadhaar or identity proof, such as voter ID, passport or driving license.
• Proof of BPL status, such as a certificate from the district authority for eligibility, BPL ration card, proof of receiving an old-age pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) or any other pension scheme of the state/UT for senior citizens belonging to BPL category.
• Certificate from the medical officer regarding hearing impairment, loss of vision, loss of teeth or locomotor disability requiring the use of a wheelchair.

Implementation of RVY

The eligible beneficiaries under this scheme are selected from the registered applicants on the ‘ALIMCO Mitra’ application. The ALIMCO identifies beneficiaries through the assessment camps organised in collaboration with the district administration or state government. 

The identified beneficiaries are given the assisted-living devices in the camp mode, i.e. the devices are distributed in the distribution camps organised in the selected districts. Assisted-living devices are provided at the doorsteps of senior citizens aged 80 years or more.