The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has announced spending of Rs 1089.58 crores under two major programmes for senior citizens. More than 10.76 lakh elderly people have received support through these initiatives since 2014-15. The funding strengthens institutional care facilities and state-specific welfare measures across India.
Programme details and spending
The Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) has spent approximately Rs 953.53 crores from the financial year 2014-15 to 2025-26. Under this programme, senior citizens receive shelter, food, medical care and recreational activities at institutional facilities.
The State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC), launched in 2019-20, has received Rs 136.05 crores in funding. This scheme gives financial support to states and union territories to design and run welfare programmes suited to their local needs.
Both programmes fall under the Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY), a comprehensive framework for senior citizen welfare. AVYAY includes five main components:
- Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens
- State Action Plan for Senior Citizens
- Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
- Elderline, a national helpline for senior citizens
- Training programme for geriatric caregivers
The AVYAY scheme covers shelter, food, healthcare, assistive devices, helpline support, training for caregivers and programmes that encourage active, productive ageing.
What this means for you
If you are a senior citizen, you may access institutional care facilities offering meals, medical attention and daily activities depending on availability in your area. States can use dedicated funds to run health camps, awareness drives, eye surgeries and other services tailored to their elderly population’s specific needs. Family members can contact the national helpline for advice and support. The schemes also train caregivers, both paid and family members, in proper elderly care practices.