Puducherry: “Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana”(RVY) a ‘Scheme for providing physical aid and assisted-living devices for senior citizens belonging to BPL category’ will be implemented as a pioneer scheme in two districts in Puducherry, said Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Vijay Sampala.
He was distributing benefits of various schemes under Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana at a function here on Thursday. Promotion of the welfare of the elderly and differently-abled persons is one of the main priorities of the NDA government and the government would be implementing various schemes for that. Extension of financial assistance to the downtrodden, women and weaker sections is a major feature of the welfare schemes of the ministry for social justice and empowerment, said the minister.
As per the 2011 census there are 10.38 lakh senior citizens in the country. Taking into account the possibility of majority of them being ignored by their family, the government had started RVY. Aids and assistive devices for daily living to BPL category senior citizens are being distributed through this scheme, said Mr Sampala.
The Centre is ready to cooperate with state governments for proper implemention of the scheme, he added. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayananasamy said that coordination between states and Centre is necessary for proper implementation of any welfare schemes.
“There are 20,952 differently abled persons in the UT. Those with 40 to 65 per cent disability are being provided with an assistance of Rs 1,500, those with 65 to 85% disability are getting Rs 2,000 a month and those above 86 %disability Rs 3,000,” he said.
