ELDERLY SCHEMES AND BENEFICIARIES

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing multiple schemes for the welfare of senior citizens, including the Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP), Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) under the umbrella scheme Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY), and the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE). In addition, the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is implemented under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Under IPOP, financial assistance is provided to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for running and maintenance of old age homes and other facilities for indigent senior citizens aged 60 years and above. The number of beneficiaries covered under IPOP during the last five financial years, State-wise and year-wise, is given at Annexure-I.

The Ministry of Rural Development has informed that under IGNOAPS, financial assistance of ₹200 per month is provided to persons aged 60–79 years and ₹500 per month to persons aged 80 years and above, subject to eligibility under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) criteria. More than 2.21 crore beneficiaries are covered under the scheme. The State/UT-wise ceiling on beneficiaries is given at Annexure-II, and year-wise allocations and expenditure incurred under IGNOAPS are given at Annexure-VI.

Under RVY, senior citizens belonging to BPL category and suffering from age-related disabilities are provided assistive devices to improve functional independence. The State-wise and year-wise number of beneficiaries under RVY during the last five financial years is given at Annexure-III. Year-wise allocations and expenditure under RVY are provided at Annexure-V.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has informed that under NPHCE, geriatric healthcare services are provided at district hospitals and Community Health Centres. During the last five years, the number of districts functional under NPHCE has increased from 595 in 2020-21 to 722 in 2024-25. Year-wise status of districts functional under NPHCE is given at Annexure-IV, and State-wise budget allocation and expenditure under NPHCE is given at Annexure-VII.

Under IPOP (component IPSrC of AVYAY), the year-wise allocation as per EFC recommendations and expenditure incurred are provided at Annexure-V, along with State-wise details of grants released.

The distribution of assisted living devices under RVY is expanded based on requirement and availability of resources. Under IGNOAPS, States/UTs are encouraged to provide top-up assistance from their own resources. Based on recommendations of various Committees and evaluations, revisions in eligibility criteria and sharing patterns were proposed during the Fifteenth Finance Commission cycle (2021–26).

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B. L. Verma, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Annexure-I: State-wise beneficiaries under IPOP (last five financial years)

Annexure-II: State/UT-wise ceiling under IGNOAPS

Annexure-III: State-wise beneficiaries under RVY (last five years)

Annexure-IV: Year-wise districts functional under NPHCE

Annexure-V: Year-wise allocations & expenditure under IPSrC and RVY

Annexure-VI: Year-wise allocations & expenditure under IGNOAPS