New Delhi: Centre on Wednesday detailed elderly welfare schemes and beneficiary data in the Rajya Sabha.
Minister of State Shri B. L. Verma shared the information in a written reply. He said the Ministry runs several elderly welfare schemes across the country. These include IPOP, RVY under AVYAY, and NPHCE. In addition, the Ministry of Rural Development implements IGNOAPS under the National Social Assistance Programme.
Under IPOP, the Ministry provides financial support to NGOs. These NGOs run old age homes and care centres for indigent citizens aged 60 years and above. As a result, 1,36,440 beneficiaries received support in 2020-21. Subsequently, the number increased to 1,52,430 in 2024-25.
Under IGNOAPS, eligible persons aged 60–79 years receive ₹200 per month. Meanwhile, persons aged 80 years and above receive ₹500 per month. The scheme follows BPL eligibility norms. Currently, more than 2.21 crore beneficiaries receive assistance. In 2024-25, the Budget Estimate stood at ₹6,645.90 crore. However, expenditure rose to ₹6,843.95 crore.
Expansion of elderly welfare schemes across States and districts
The government also runs RVY to support senior citizens from BPL families. Under this scheme, authorities provide assistive devices to those with age-related disabilities. Consequently, beneficiaries increased from 18,177 in 2020-21 to 1,54,174 in 2024-25. Moreover, allocations rose to ₹168.21 crore in 2024-25. Expenditure also climbed to ₹208.29 crore.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare strengthened NPHCE services. The number of functional districts increased from 595 in 2020-21 to 722 in 2024-25. Therefore, more elderly citizens gained access to geriatric healthcare at district hospitals and Community Health Centres.
Under the IPSrC component of AVYAY, allocations increased steadily. For instance, the allocation stood at ₹122.75 crore in 2020-21. It then rose to ₹307.93 crore in 2024-25. However, expenditure for 2024-25 stood at ₹125.42 crore.
The Minister further said States and UTs can provide top-up pension support under IGNOAPS from their own resources. Additionally, authorities proposed revisions in eligibility criteria and sharing patterns during the Fifteenth Finance Commission cycle from 2021 to 2026.
