Ministry : Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Objective is to provide physical aids and assisted-living devices for senior citizens belonging to BPL category.
Scheme:
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It is a central sector scheme funded by the Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund.
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The scheme will distribute free of cost physical aids and assisted-living devices for senior citizens belonging to BPL category.
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It will be implemented through the sole implementing agency ‘Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a PSU under Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
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The eligible elderly beneficiary will get devices such as walking sticks, elbow crutches, walkers/crutches, tripods/qadpods, hearing aids, wheelchair, aificial Dentures and Spectacles.
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The devices will help the Senior Citizens to overcome their age related physical impairment and to lead a dignified and productive life with minimal dependence on care givers or other members of the family.
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Beneficiaries will be identified by the State Governments/UTs through a Committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector.
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The Committee can utilize the data of BPL beneficiaries receiving Old Age Pension under the NSAP or any other Scheme of the State/UTs for identification of senior citizens belonging to BPL category.
Facts:
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As per the Census of 2011, there are 10.38 crore senior citizens in the country and 5.2% of them suffer from some sort of old age-related disability.
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It is projected that the number of senior citizens will increase to around 173 million by 2026.