What happened
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment says it is implementing the Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY) as an umbrella scheme for the welfare of senior citizens across India, including Assam and the North Eastern States. The same release also says welfare support for persons with disabilities is being implemented through the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
The release highlights the role of Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a public sector undertaking under the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, in running Pradha Mantri Divyasha-Vayoshri Kendras (PMDVKs). According to the release, ALIMCO has opened 11 PMDVKs in the Northeast region and reviews the need for additional centres from time to time.
Background and earlier position
AVYAY is the current umbrella framework for senior-citizen welfare under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has placed multiple older schemes and support systems under AVYAY, showing that senior-citizen welfare is being delivered through a combination of institutional care, State-level planning, helpline support, assistive devices, start-up promotion, and caregiver training.
Main components mentioned in the release
Related current affairs
- Government expands welfare schemes for senior citizens and persons with disabilities across North Eastern states
- Government strengthens welfare and social security measures for senior citizens under Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY)
- Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana under AVYAY: 49.81 lakh assistive devices distributed to BPL senior citizens
- DWBDNC organizes ‘SAMAVESH UTSAV’ to showcase inclusion and SEED Scheme success for DNT communities
- Inter-caste marriage incentive support helps couple build stable life in Odisha
- ₹1,178.20 crore central share released to Karnataka under Post-Matric Scholarship for SC students (2023-24 to 2025-26)