(a) the details of the welfare schemes started for the weaker sections of the population during the last three years and the current year;
(b) whether all the schemes have been successfully implemented so that the benefits reach the targeted beneficiaries and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any study/survey to assess/ evaluate the performance of these schemes at the grassroot level; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)
(a) to (b) : During the last three year, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched one scheme namely ‘Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)’ on 01.04.2017. The objective of the scheme is to provide senior citizens, belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category and suffering from age related disabilities/ infirmities, with such physical aids and assisted living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions. Under the Scheme, assisted living devices such as walking sticks, elbow crutches, walkers/ crutches, tripods/ quadpods, hearing aids, wheelchairs, artificial dentures, spectacles are provided free of cost to the beneficiaries.
The Scheme is implemented by the “Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation”, a Mini Ratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the administrative control of this Ministry. The devices are distributed in the camp mode. The beneficiaries are identified through Assessment Camps organised in collaboration with the respective State Government/District Administration and the devices are distributed in Distribution Camps organised in the selected districts. For the senior citizens aged 80 years or more, the devices are provided at their doorsteps.
At present, 325 Districts have been selected for the implementation of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana. The assessment camps to identify the beneficiaries have been completed in 135 districts of which as on 25.01.2019, 77 distribution camps have been organised providing 1,67,894 aids and assistive devices to 70,939 senior citizens belonging to BPL Category.
(c) & (d): Since, the scheme has been launched recently on 01.04.2017, no study/ survey to assess/ evaluate the performance of the scheme has been done.
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