NATIONAL VAYOSHREE and ADIP (Assistance to Disabled Persons) SCHEME

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The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has announced the provision of free equipment and materials to senior citizens and differently-abled persons under the National Vayoshree and Adip (Assistance to Disabled Persons) scheme.

Steps were taken for the Welfare of senior citizens:

Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) under which grants in aid are given to Registered Societies/ Panchayati Raj Institutions/Local bodies/ Non-Governmental/Voluntary Organizations for running and maintaining Senior Citizens Homes/Care Homes, Mobile Medicare Units etc.
Each State/UT is expected to plan its own State Action Plans for the welfare of senior citizens.
- The State Action Plan may comprise a long-term strategy for five years as well as Annual Action Plans.
- Department of Social Justice and Empowerment releases funds to the States/UTs for formulation and implementation of their State Action Plans.
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)
- It is a Central Sector Scheme funded by the Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund.
- Under the Scheme, aids and assistive living devices are provided to senior citizens belonging to the BPL category or those senior citizens who earn less than 15000/- per month and suffer from age-related disabilities such as low vision, hearing impairment, and loss of teeth and locomotor disabilities.
- The aids and assistive devices are provided to eligible beneficiaries, free of cost.
- The Scheme is being implemented by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) which is a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Livelihood and Skilling Initiatives for Senior Citizens
- It aims to supplement the efforts of senior citizens by providing them opportunities to enhance their earnings and sense of self-respect.
Senior Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity (SACRED) portal allows the Senior Citizens a platform to connect with private enterprises for certain positions.
Promoting Silver Economy
- To find innovative solutions for the commonly faced problems by Senior Citizens.
- Innovative start-ups will be identified and encouraged for developing products, processes and services for the welfare of the elderly under this initiative.
- The selected start-ups/start-up ideas can be provided equity support of up to Rs.1 crore per project while ensuring that the total Government equity in the start-up should not exceed 49%.
Channelizing CSR funds for Elderly care:
- This initiative is to channel the CSR funds for elderly care
The Ministry has set up the National Helpline for Senior Citizens to address the grievance of the elders.
Vayoshreshtha Samman- A Scheme of National Award for Senior Citizens
- National Award for Senior Citizens ‘Vayoshreshtha Sammans’ is conferred to eminent and outstanding institutions or organizations and individuals from different categories.

Related News

Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment released the draft guidelines to expand the disabilities prevention programme of the Health Ministry.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, has extended the number of disabilities from 7 to 21.

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Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

The Act replaced the Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995.
India is a signatory of the United National Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The act fulfils the commitment made by India at UNCRPD.
Under the Act, types of disabilities have been increased from the existing 7 to 21 and it authorised the Central Government to add more types of disabilities.
The 21 disabilities are;
- Blindness
- Low-vision
- Leprosy Cured persons
- Hearing Impairment (deaf and hard of hearing)
- Locomotors Disability
- Dwarfism
- Intellectual Disability
- Mental Illness
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Chronic Neurological conditions
- Specific Learning Disabilities
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Speech and Language disability
- Thalassemia
- Haemophilia
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Multiple Disabilities including deaf, and blindness.
- Acid Attack victim
- Parkinson's disease
First-time Speech and Language Disabilities and Specific Learning disabilities have been added to the list.
Acid Attack Victims and Dwarfism are also included in the list of disabilities.
The list of disabilities also included three blood disorders;
- Thalassemia
- Haemophilia
- Sickle Cell Disease
Directed the governments to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy their rights equally with others.
Persons with benchmark disabilities and those with high support will get additional benefits such as reservations in higher education, government jobs, poverty alleviation schemes etc.
Every child between the ages of 6 and 18 years with the benchmark disability shall have the right to free education.
Ensure their accessibility in public buildings (both Government and private).
Reservation in Public vacancies has been increased from 3% to 4% for persons with benchmark disability.
Central and State Advisory Boards on Disability to serve as the highest policy-making bodies at the Central and State level.
District-level committees by the State Governments to address local concerns of PwDs.
National and State Fund to provide financial support to persons with disabilities.
Strict Punishments and Penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities.
Special Courts in each district to take cases regarding violation of rights of PwDs.
The Act provided an effective tool for ensuring their empowerment and true inclusion into mainstream society in an acceptable manner.