Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY)

Overview

Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) is a Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment for the welfare and empowerment of senior citizens. The scheme was earlier known as the National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC) and was revamped and renamed as AVYAY in April 2021. It is the Government of India’s comprehensive umbrella programme addressing shelter, healthcare, assistive devices, livelihood, helpline services, and innovation in elderly care.

India’s elderly population (60+ years) is projected to reach 19.4% of the total population by 2050 (UN Population Projections), making elderly welfare a critical policy priority. AVYAY addresses this through six major components with a combined outlay of approximately ₹533.81 crore covering institutional care, assistive devices, helpline, skilling, start-up support, and geriatric training.

Six Components

1. Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)

• Allocation: ₹300 crore
• Grants-in-aid to NGOs and Voluntary Organisations for running old age homes, continuous care homes, and day care centres
• Provides shelter, food, medical care, and entertainment to indigent senior citizens
• Covers senior citizens who are destitute, without family support, or abandoned
• Construction and maintenance of old age homes funded under this component

2. State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC)

• Grants to States and UTs for state-specific elderly welfare programmes
• Covers training of geriatric caregivers, cataract surgeries, and other welfare activities
• States prepare action plans aligned with the National Policy for Senior Citizens (2011)
• Promotes convergence with state health and social welfare departments

3. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)

• Allocation: ₹77.23 crore
• Provides free assistive living devices for age-related disabilities — wheelchairs, hearing aids, walking sticks, spectacles, dentures
• Eligibility: BPL senior citizens or those with monthly income up to ₹15,000
• Devices distributed through camps organised in collaboration with ALIMCO (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India)
• Restores near-normalcy in bodily functions for elderly with age-related disabilities

4. Elderline (14567) — National Helpline for Senior Citizens

• Toll-free number: 14567 — operational 8 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week
• Services: information, guidance, emotional support, grievance redressal, and rescue
• Total expenditure of ₹82.68 crore over the last 3 financial years
• Connects distressed elderly with local police, district administration, and legal aid
• Available in multiple languages; staffed by trained counsellors

5. SAGE (Senior-care Ageing Growth Engine)

• Equity support up to ₹1 crore per start-up (maximum 49% government equity)
• Supports start-ups innovating in elderly care — health-tech, assistive devices, companionship services
• Selection through an expert committee; focus on scalable, technology-driven solutions
• Promotes the “Silver Economy” — an economic ecosystem around elderly needs
• Allocation: ₹20 crore

6. Geriatric Caregivers Training

• Conducted through the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD)
• Covers both clinical and non-clinical aspects of elderly care
• Trains formal and informal caregivers to handle geriatric conditions
• Addresses the shortage of trained geriatric care professionals in India

Additional Initiatives Under AVYAY

• SACRED (Senior Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity): An online employment exchange portal connecting senior citizens with job opportunities suited to their experience and capabilities
• Health and Nutrition Support: ₹39.6 crore allocated for nutritional support to indigent elderly
• Livelihood and Skilling for Senior Citizens/SHGs: ₹37 crore for productive engagement of elderly through skill-based activities

Latest Developments

• Elderline (14567) expenditure of ₹82.68 crore over the past 3 financial years — indicates growing utilisation of the helpline
• SAGE initiative actively funding elderly-care start-ups; promotes the “Silver Economy” concept aligned with India’s ageing demographic transition
• SACRED portal operational — connecting retired professionals with organisations needing experienced manpower
• RVY camps continue to be held across districts; ALIMCO distributes assistive devices through state-level coordination
• Geriatric caregiver training expanded through NISD; both classroom and digital training modules offered

Prelims Importance

• AVYAY was earlier called National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC) — renamed in April 2021
• Ministry: Social Justice and Empowerment
• Elderline toll-free number: 14567 — operational 8 AM to 8 PM
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): Free assistive devices for BPL elderly or income up to ₹15,000/month
• SAGE: Equity support up to ₹1 crore per elderly-care start-up (max 49% govt equity)
• SACRED: Employment portal for senior citizens seeking re-employment
• 6 components under AVYAY — commonly asked in match-the-following
• Geriatric training conducted by National Institute of Social Defence (NISD)
• Devices under RVY distributed by ALIMCO

Mains and Interview Importance

GS Paper 2 — Social Justice, Welfare, Governance:

• Discuss the significance of AVYAY in the context of India’s rapidly ageing population. How does the scheme address the multidimensional needs of the elderly — from healthcare to livelihood to dignity?
• Critically evaluate the concept of “Silver Economy” promoted through SAGE under AVYAY. Can elderly care become a growth sector in India?
• Compare India’s approach to elderly welfare (AVYAY) with models in countries like Japan (Long-Term Care Insurance) or Singapore (MediShield Life). What can India learn?

Interview Angle:

“India’s elderly population is projected to reach nearly 20% by 2050, but AVYAY’s total outlay is only around ₹534 crore. Is this adequate for a country of 1.4 billion people, and how would you scale elderly care programmes?”

Sources: MoSJE Official, PIB, ClearIAS