Empowering India’s Silver Economy
1. The Ageing Imperative
- As per Census 2011, India had 10.38 crore senior citizens (60+), including 5.11 crore males and 5.27 crore females.
- Urbanisation, migration and nuclear families are weakening traditional family support, increasing the need for institutional elderly care.
- Launched in 2021, AVYAY subsumed the National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC).
- It promotes Ageing with Dignity (respectful care) and Ageing at Place (enabling seniors to live safely in their homes and communities).
2. What AVYAY Sets Out to Do
- India's elderly population is projected to reach 23 crore by 2036, requiring comprehensive institutional and community-based support.
- It promotes healthcare, shelter, assistive devices, skill development and active ageing.
- In FY 2026–27, ₹77.98 crore was released to 755 IPSrC projects for the quarter ending September 2026.
3. Institutional Architecture of AVYAY
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) handles policy, funding and implementation.
- States/UTs: Prepare and implement welfare plans under the State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC).
- District Committees: Chaired by District Collectors/Magistrates, they select indigent beneficiaries and monitor senior citizen homes.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability
- Project Monitoring Unit conducts inspections, while NGOs submit progress reports, utilisation certificates and audited statements.
- E-anudaan portal, biometric attendance and live CCTV feeds strengthen transparency and accountability.
4. Building Blocks of AVYAY
A. Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)
- Provides grants to NGOs and local bodies for old age homes, continuous care homes, mobile medical units and physiotherapy clinics.
- Supports 764 Senior Citizen Homes, 13 Continuous Care Homes, 17 Mobile Medicare Units and 3 Physiotherapy Clinics.
B. State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC)
- Supports geriatric caregivers, cataract surgery drives and state-specific welfare programmes.
- States can utilise up to 20% of allocated funds for approved local initiatives.
C. Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs)
- Promote training, research, awareness, monitoring and capacity building.
- Each designated centre receives annual assistance of ₹19.58 lakh.
D. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)
Originally launched in 2017, it provides assistive devices to elderly persons with age-related disabilities.
Over 10.45 lakh beneficiaries have received 55.87 lakh devices.
E. National Helpline – Elderline
- Helpline 14567, launched in 2021, provides free information, emotional support and grievance redressal.
- Received over 8.66 lakh actionable calls.
F. JEEVAN App and SHATAYU Dashboard
- Launched in May 2026, JEEVAN provides welfare information, emergency assistance and one-tab calling.
- SHATAYU connects elderly persons with trained caregivers and lists 30,151 caregivers.
G. Anubhav Bolta Hai – Provides senior citizens a platform to share experiences and access information on healthy ageing, legal rights and welfare schemes.
H. Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) – Supports elderly-care start-ups with equity assistance up to ₹1 crore, mentoring and market linkages.
- SAGE Portal connects users with verified elderly-care products and services.
I. Senior Citizen Opportunities for Productive Engagement (SCOPE) - Connects experienced senior citizens with suitable employment opportunities, promoting productive ageing.
J. PM-SPECIAL - Provides free skill-based training to develop professional geriatric caregivers and strengthen elderly-care services.
5. Towards Dignified Ageing - On 1 September 2026, MoSJE partnered with Ramakrishna Math and Mission for Creating Intergenerational Bonding.
- The initiative will cover 200 pilot schools through co-learning games, a bilingual resource centre and teacher certification.
6. Conclusion
- AVYAY integrates institutional care, healthcare, employment and technology to strengthen elderly welfare.
- Its collaborative approach promotes dignified ageing, social inclusion and India's emerging Silver Economy.
Reference
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