In old age, even a small assistive device can make a big difference, easing daily challenges and helping senior citizens live with dignity and independence. With this aim, Union Minister of State and Bhavnagar MP Smt. Nimuben Bambhaniya has undertaken a compassionate initiative under the Rashtriya Vayoshree Yojana in the Bhavnagar Lok Sabha constituency.

Under the Rashtriya Vayoshree Yojana of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, free assistive devices are provided to needy senior citizens based on their physical condition and medical assessment. To ensure that the benefits of this scheme reach those in need, assessments were conducted for 8,091 senior citizens through 14 assessment camps organised in the Bhavnagar-Botad region. Based on these assessments, a total of 46,017 assistive devices have been distributed to 8,111 beneficiaries through eight camps organised at various locations across the Bhavnagar Lok Sabha constituency.\

The initiative stands out not just for its numbers, but for bringing government assistance directly to senior citizens’ doorsteps, saving them the trouble of travelling long distances.

An Effort to Ensure Assistance Reaches Those in Need

In line with the Central Government’s approach under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to ensure that the benefits of welfare schemes reach the last person in society, this initiative has been undertaken in the Bhavnagar Lok Sabha constituency. With the resolve that not a single eligible senior citizen should be deprived of the scheme’s benefits, Smt. Nimuben Bambhaniya has made efforts to advance this initiative in mission mode. With the support of the district administration, Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), organisational workers, and social service organisations, the processes of assessment, documentation, and distribution were carried out. Emphasis was placed on identifying the individual needs of senior citizens and ensuring that they receive suitable assistive devices.

The primary objective of this initiative is not only to provide assistive devices but also to help senior citizens overcome daily challenges and lead more independent and dignified lives.

14 Assessment Camps: The First Step Towards Identifying Assistance Needs

• Between June 30, 2025, and July 16, 2025, ALIMCO organised 14 assessment camps across the Bhavnagar-Botad region. During these camps, the physical condition of senior citizens and their need for assistive devices were assessed. Efforts were also made to facilitate essential services, such as income certificates and Ayushman Vay Vandana Cards.
• A total of 8,091 senior citizens were assessed at these camps. Based on the assessments, 45,968 assistive devices were approved, with an approved value of approximately ₹7.66 crore.
• This assessment process helped identify the specific devices required by each individual and plan the provision of assistance accordingly. Thus, this beneficiary-centric approach laid the foundation for the distribution campaign.
• What Types of Assistive Devices Were Provided?
• Under the Rashtriya Vayoshree Yojana, various types of assistive devices are provided free of cost to senior citizens based on their individual needs and medical assessments. These include wheelchairs, commode wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, tripod and quadripod walking sticks, crutches, hearing aids, dentures, seat cushions, commode stools, back and knee supports, shoulder braces, and neck and spinal supports.

Eight Distribution Camps: How Many Beneficiaries Received Assistive Devices at Each Location?

Date	Place	Beneficiaries	Devices		Value
1, July, 2026	Bhavnagar	2,569	15,023	₹2.48 Crore
8, September, 2026	Ghogha	613	3,481	₹ 55.12 lakh
17, September, 2026	Mahuva	623	3,412	₹ 59.38 Lakh
21, September, 2026	Gariadhar	680	3,752	₹ 62.06 Lakh
26, September, 2026	Palitana	991	5,445	₹ 92.89 Lakh
28, September, 2026	Vallabhipur	925	5,307	₹ 86.36 Lakh
30, September, 2026	Talaja	806	4,527	₹ 77.16 Lakh
1, October, 2026	Shihor	904	5,070	₹ 83.85 Lak
Total		8,111	46,017	Approximately ₹7.66 crore

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