While the family still plays the first institution as a caregiver for its elderly members in India, the central government also provides a range of welfare schemes for senior citizens under its National Policy on Older Persons (1999), from financial and food security, healthcare, and shelter to protection against abuse and exploitation. These Central Ministry-Wise Schemes are programmes offered under its various ministries and departments. Let’s understand these Central Ministry-Wise Schemes in depth.

Here is a list of Central Ministry-Wise Schemes that are offered by them:

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment:

Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC): It implements the IPSrC programme that grants aid for running and maintaining gold age homes, care homes, and mobile medicare units. etc., through state governments, union territory administrations panchayati raj institutions and non-governmental voluntary organisations.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): It provides aids and assistive living devices to senior citizens belonging to the BPL category or those who earn less than Rs 15,000 per month and suffer from age-related disabilities like low vision, hearing impairment, loco-motor disabilities, etc.

National Helpline for Senior Citizen: The ministry has set up the toll-free national helpline number 14567 for senior citizens across the country to address their grievances.

State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC): The Social Justice and Empowerment department releases funds to states and UTs to formulate and implement their State Action Plans.

Senior care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE): It seeks to promote out-of-the-box solutions for the commonly faced problems by identifying start-ups and encouraging them to develop products and services for the elderly population.

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Department of Rural Development

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): It provides old-age pension to people belonging to BPL households, implemented in collaboration with the states and UTs.

Department of Food and Public Distribution

Annapurna Scheme: It distributes 10 kg of food grains per person per month for free to senior citizens in BPL households who are not getting pensions under IGNOAPS.

Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): It provides rice and wheat at a highly subsidised cost to poor households headed by widows, terminally ill, disabled persons, and senior citizens.

Ministry of Finance

Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY): The scheme is implemented through the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India. It protects seniors against falling interest income due to uncertain market conditions and provides an assured return payable monthly for 10 years.

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): The scheme provides Rs. 2 lakh for accidental death or total permanent disability and Rs. 1 lakh for partial permanent disability.

Atal Pension Yojana (APY): It provides a fixed pension of Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 to people from the unorganised sector when they reach 60 years of age.

Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana (VPBY): Under the scheme, the subscribers on payment of a lump sum amount get a pension at a guaranteed rate per annum, payable monthly. It is administered through LIC.

Rebate in Income Tax for Senior Citizens: Income tax exemption for senior citizens is up to Rs. 3 lakh; those 80 and above age are exempted from paying income tax up to Rs 5 lakh.

Exemption in Service Tax: Activities relating to education or skill development in rural areas for people over 65 years are exempt from service tax.

Higher interest rate: Seniors’ savings accounts in banks and post offices get higher interest rates.

Door-step Banking: All banks provide this facility for cash pick-up, withdrawals, submission of KYC documents, life certificates, etc.

Scheme for Reverse Mortgage: Under the scheme, senior citizens can mortgage their property with bank and can get a maximum loan of up to 60 per cent of the property value.

Health Insurance for Senior Citizens: It allows entry into a health insurance scheme till the age of 65. Insurance companies cannot deny renewals without specific reasons.

Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

Pension for Central Govt. employees: It grants retirement benefits, including pension, so that they can live an active and dignified life after retirement.

Ministry of Culture:

Scheme for Financial Assistance to Veteran Artists: It provides Rs. 6,000 as a monthly allowance to artists aged 60 and above, and Rs. 5,999 per month to the nominee in case of death.

Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

Accessible India Campaign: It includes the creation of senior-friendly buildings, public toilets, buses, bus-stands, airports and other public places.

Ministry of Railways

Separate reservation counters, wheelchairs for senior citizens: Separate counters are earmarked at reservation centres for senior citizens. There is a provision for reservation of lower berths, provide wheel chairs facilities, etc.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE): Under NPHCE, dedicated healthcare services are provided to senior citizens.

Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY): It provides coverage upto Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.

Ministry of Communications

Concessions extended by BSNL & MTNL: BSNL exempts senior citizens from payment of registration charges for a landline telephone connection. MTNL provides concession in installation, activation and monthly rental charges for landline connections.

Ministry of Civil Aviation

Concession & facilities at Airports: Air India offers a 50 per cent discount to senior citizens on the highest economy class basic fare, airports provide free automated buggies, trolleys, etc.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Creation of elder-friendly barrier-free environment: It has prescribed guidelines for urban local bodies to create senior-friendly buildings, toilets, ease of metro travel, reserved seats, etc.

Ministry of Women and Child Development

Home for Widows: It has constructed homes for 1,000 widows for safety, health services, food, legal and counselling services, etc., at Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh.

Ministry of AYUSH

Yoga Therapy: the scheme provides free consultation and yoga therapy under. OPDs are being provided in government hospitals for therapy programmes.

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

Concession in Transport Fare: Many state governments provide seat reservation and concessions in ticket fare for senior citizens in state-run buses.