Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

Why Was Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana Introduced

The elderly population, especially the BPL population in India suffer from both poverty and physical deterioration due to old age. Many senior citizens (above 60 years old) suffer from low vision, loss of hearing, teeth and loss of mobility, but the devices which can make them independent is something that the majority of BPL families simply could not afford, such as glasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs, walking sticks etc.

These tools remove people in old age from their independence and mobility, and greatly diminish the quality of their lives. To tackle this head on, a Government initiative was launched to ensure that no BPL senior citizen is deprived of the basic tools for independent living on account of financial constraints i.e Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana.

The health insurance scheme supports the existing elderly health care system. Senior citizens can avail cashless treatment in hospitals under the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card, a separate ₹5 lakh annual cover provided for senior citizens, under PMJAY. The Nikshay Poshan Yojana is a scheme for providing nutritional support during illness and it has been announced that TB patients will get Rs. 1000 per month. Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) offers a one-time financial aid of up to ₹15 lakh at government super-specialty hospitals where medical expenses are very high. Senior citizens who have disabilities can also consider the Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme for tailored disability insurance policies.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana- Key Highlights

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana Eligibility- Who Can Apply

The following are eligible under this scheme:

• Must be a senior citizen aged 60 years or above
• Must be part of a BPL family
• Have to have age-related impairment, low vision, hearing impairment, tooth loss or locomotor impairment
• Should be a Permanent Resident of India.

Who is NOT eligible:

• The elderly who are above the BPL line.
• Persons who have already had assistive devices issued to them under this scheme for the same impairment
• Other central government assistive device schemes for the same need, which residents are under.

How to Apply for Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

Offline- At District-Level Camps:

• The scheme is largely being promoted through the Assessment camps held at the district level by ALIMCO along with the state government.
• Identification of beneficiaries is carried out through the district authorities and local bodies.
• The trained medical staff examine the senior citizen at the camp and determines his/her particular impairment and requirement
• Assistive devices are provided on the day or within a short time period after assessment, if appropriate.
• In most cases, no separate application form is to be filled, identification is made on the basis of BPL and Aadhaar records.

Online:

• Please click on the official link www.socialjustice.gov.in
• Click on Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana Section
• Look for future camp dates in your district
• Sign up your information and join the assessment camp near you.

The senior citizens are asked to register their ABHA ID card with health records at abdm.gov.in, thus enabling them to have a single digital health profile with all health records that can be accessed at any government health facility along with the assistive device records.

Documents Required For Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

• Aadhaar card- for identity verification and ABHA linkage
• BPL certificate or ration card- confirming below poverty line status
• Age proof- birth certificate, Aadhaar, or any government-issued document confirming age 60 or above
• Medical certificate- confirming the age-related impairment requiring the assistive device
• Passport-size photograph
• Mobile number- for updates and notifications

Assistive Devices Provided Under Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

All the devices are made by ALIMCO and are quality compliant as per the Standard set by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (PIB-MoSJE). All devices are fitted and demonstrated during the assessment camp to ensure they are used correctly.

For senior citizens additionally needing hospitalisation coverage, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PMJAY) network of 37,778 empanelled hospitals provides cashless treatment. Those aged 70 years and above are provided a special cover of ₹5 lakh under Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card, in addition to the existing family cover limit of PM-JAY. The Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme for Multiple Disabilities is being considered as a special scheme along with Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana for families with elderly members of Multiple Disabilities.

How the Distribution Process Works

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is run in the camp mode:

1. ALIMCO, working in coordination with the state governments and district authorities, identifies districts with high strata elderly population in BPL.
2. Assessment camps are held at the district level; dates and places of these camps are advertised via the local government offices and the socialjustice.gov.in website.
3. The camp is held for those who are eligible for senior citizens and they come with their documents.
4. Medical experts trained in the assessment of the medical impairment of each beneficiary recommend the type of device.
5. The devices are allocated during the camp or within a few days after the camp.
6. Periodic post distribution follow up camps are organised for repairs, replacement and new assessment.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana and Other Schemes for Senior Citizens

The senior citizens availed of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana will be able to avail multiple other central and state schemes at a time for comprehensive support. Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card offers a specific ₹5 lakh health cover to the citizens of the country who are at the age of 70 years and above. State-Level Cashless Hospitalisation is provided by Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana in Odisha and Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) in Tamil Nadu. In Assam, Atal Amrit Abhiyan is implemented for six high cost diseases for BPL families. The protection is similar under the Swasthya Sathi Scheme in West Bengal and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana in Maharashtra. Mission Vatsalya beneficiaries aged over 60 who are dependent on the children in institutional care can also avail hospitalisation benefits at empanelled hospitals.

Helpline and Support

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana ensures that there is no loss of functional independence of BPL senior citizens in India due to financial constraints for acquiring basic assistive devices. The scheme offers elderly beneficiaries free, quality assured equipment, such as walking sticks, wheelchairs, hearing aids and spectacles, directly from district level camps. India's elderly welfare system is a multi-layered system, with Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card for hospitalisation coverage, PMJAY for family health insurance, and Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi for extreme medical costs. Register your ABHA card with abdm.gov.in and visit socialjustice.gov.in or contact Elderline at 14567 to get the schedules of camps and enrollment details.