As part of the Central Government’s continued commitment towards the welfare and dignity of senior citizens, Dr. Virendra Kumar, Hon’ble Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, will distribute assistive devices among senior citizens at a programme at Dr Ambedkar International Centre in National Capital here tomorrow. Shri B. L. Verma, Hon’ble Minister of State of Social Justice and Empowerment, will also grace the occasion.

A Senior Official in the Ministry informed that under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), 114 senior citizens residing in Senior Citizens’ Homes in New Delhi and the National Capital Region will receive a total of 662 assistive devices and aids costing over ₹10 lakh, free of cost. The devices have been identified according to the individual needs of the beneficiaries through assessment camps conducted in September 2026.

The assistive devices include folding wheelchairs and commode wheelchairs, crutches, walking sticks, BTE hearing aids, spinal supports, walkers, cervical collars, chairs with commode, knee braces, LS belts, tripods/tetrapods and silicone foam cushions.

The initiative reflects the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment’s continued commitment to enabling senior citizens to live with dignity, good health and independence.

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal department for the welfare of senior citizens in the country. Its Senior Citizens Division formulates and implements policies and programmes for the elderly in close collaboration with State Governments, Non-Governmental Organisations and civil society. The Division administers the umbrella scheme Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), and the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a key component.

The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is implemented by the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The distribution of assistive devices is in consonance with the Government’s vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, which seeks to ensure inclusive growth and enable every citizen, including senior citizens, to live with dignity, good health and independence.

Under the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign, a tree sapling plantation drive with the theme “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” will be led by Dr. Virendra Kumar, Hon’ble Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, tomorrow on the occasion of Swachh Bharat Diwas. The plantation drive is scheduled to be held at Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation in New Delhi. The initiative will reinforce the message of environmental sustainability, cleanliness and collective responsibility, while encouraging citizens to contribute towards a greener, cleaner and healthier India.

The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, launched on 1st April 2017, is fully funded by the Government of India and provides free assistive devices to eligible senior citizens with age-related physical frailty.

Since its launch, more than 55 lakh assistive devices have been provided to more than 10 lakh senior citizens across the country, with about 45 per cent of the beneficiaries being women. 109 Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Vayoshri Kendras (PMD-VKs) are operational across the country so far.

The initiatives reflect the Government’s commitment to inclusive development, dignity of senior citizens, environmental sustainability and Jan Bhagidari, contributing towards the broader vision of Swachh Bharat and Viksit Bharat.

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