The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will distribute free assistive devices to senior citizens living in care homes across Delhi and the National Capital Region on October 2, 2026. The distribution event will be led by Dr. Virendra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, and attended by Shri B.L. Verma, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment. The programme will take place at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
This initiative is part of the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, a central government scheme that provides mobility aids and other assistive devices to older people who face age-related physical limitations. The scheme is fully funded by the central government.
Key facts
- 114 senior citizens will receive devices on October 2, 2026
- 662 assistive devices will be distributed, worth over Rs 10 lakh
- Beneficiaries identified through assessment camps in September 2026
- All devices provided free of cost
- Since launch on April 1, 2017, the scheme has provided over 55 lakh devices to more than 10 lakh senior citizens nationally
- About 45 per cent of beneficiaries nationwide are women
- 109 Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Vayoshri Kendras (distribution centres) are operational across India
What devices will be distributed
The assistive devices being provided have been selected based on individual assessments conducted in September 2026. They include folding wheelchairs, commode wheelchairs, crutches, walking sticks, hearing aids (BTE model), spinal supports, walkers, cervical collars, chairs with commode features, knee braces, lumbar supports, tripods and tetrapods, and silicone foam cushions. Each device is tailored to the specific needs of the recipient.
About the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a major government scheme launched on April 1, 2017, designed to help senior citizens maintain independence and dignity in their daily lives. The scheme targets older people who experience physical weakness or limitations due to age and provides them with assistive devices free of charge. The Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, implements the scheme.
Since its launch nearly a decade ago, the scheme has reached over 10 lakh beneficiaries across the country, distributing more than 55 lakh devices. The reach spans urban and rural areas through a network of 109 distribution centres called Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Vayoshri Kendras.
Part of a broader framework
The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana operates as a key component of the larger Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), an umbrella scheme under the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. This department is the nodal agency for senior citizen welfare across India and works with state governments, non-governmental organisations and civil society groups to implement policies and programmes for older citizens.
The October 2 distribution event coincides with Swachh Bharat Diwas, a national cleanliness observance day. Dr. Virendra Kumar will also lead a tree plantation drive themed “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (One Tree for Mother) at the Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation in New Delhi as part of the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign, combining the assistive devices initiative with environmental sustainability efforts.
What this means for you
If you are a senior citizen with age-related physical difficulties, the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana may provide free assistive devices to help you remain mobile and independent. The scheme operates through 109 centres across India where eligible older people can be assessed and receive devices suited to their specific needs. The programme emphasises that assistive devices should not be a financial burden on older people or their families.
The scheme reflects government policy to ensure that senior citizens can live with dignity and maintain independence despite physical challenges that come with age.