The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has introduced a scheme for providing physical aids and Assisted Living Devices for Senior Citizens belonging to BPL category named “Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)” on 1st April, 2017 with the objective of providing Senior Citizens, belonging to BPL category and suffering from age related disabilities/ infirmities, with such physical aids and assisted living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions. Under the Scheme, assisted living devices such as Walking Sticks, Elbow Crutches, Walkers/ Crutches, Tripods/ Quadpods, Hearing Aids, Wheelchairs, Artificial Dentures and Spectacles are provided free of cost to the beneficiary senior citizens.
The Scheme is being implemented through the “Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO)”, a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of SJ&E, as the sole Implementing Agency. The devices are distributed in the camp mode. The beneficiaries are identified through Assessment Camps organised in collaboration with the respective State Government/District Administration and the devices are distributed in Distribution Camps organised in the selected districts. For the senior citizens aged 80 years or more, the devices are provided at their doorsteps.
At present, a total of 325 Districts have been selected for the implementation of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana. The assessment camps to identify the beneficiaries have been completed in 135 districts of which as on 25.01.2019, 77 distribution camps have been organised benefitting 70939 senior citizens belonging to BPL Category. The State/UT wise/ Year wise number of beneficiaries are given below :
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State-wise/Year-Wise Total Number of Senior Citizens Benefited under Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (as on 25/01/2019)
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Sl. No.
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States/UTs
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No. of Beneficiaries
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2017-18
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2018-19
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1
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Andhra Pradesh
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2720
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2682
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2
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Arunachal Pradesh
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Nil
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384
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3
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Bihar
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1665
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261
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4
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Chhattisgarh
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Nil
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31
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5
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Delhi
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1480
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1384
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6
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Goa
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2407
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Nil
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7
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Gujarat
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2760
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Nil
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8
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Haryana
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1611
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563
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9
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Himachal Pradesh
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76
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118
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10
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Jharkhand
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21
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96
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11
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Karnataka
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Nil
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1316
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12
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Kerala
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687
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275
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13
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Lakshadweep
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Nil
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528
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14
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Madhya Pradesh
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3980
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10959
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15
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Maharashtra
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3126
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3217
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16
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Meghalaya
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1822
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5469
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17
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Puducherry
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1529
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Nil
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18
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Punjab
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Nil
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804
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19
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Rajasthan
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4210
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Nil
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20
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Sikkim
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Nil
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1814
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21
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Tamil Nadu
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Nil
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1152
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22
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Telangana
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Nil
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1473
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23
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Tripura
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795
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Nil
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24
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Uttar Pradesh
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4080
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2807
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25
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Uttarakhand
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1100
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1537
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Total No. of Beneficiaries
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34069
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36870
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This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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NB/SK/IA/SJ&E-05-02-2019