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Elderly Welfare
Demographic Context
India's elderly population (60+): 10.5% of total population (Census 2011); projected 19.5% by 2050 (UN estimates). Rajasthan had 50.6 lakh elderly (60+) in 2011, projected to increase significantly. The SAGE (Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine) portal and National Programme for Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE) represent institutional responses.
Central Pension Schemes for Elderly
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) — Centrally sponsored, provides social pensions to BPL persons:
| Component | Beneficiary | Central Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGNOAPS (Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension) | BPL elderly 60-79 years | ₹200/month | States top up |
| IGNOAPS (80+ years) | BPL elderly 80+ years | ₹500/month | States top up |
| IGNWPS (Widow Pension Scheme) | BPL widows 40-79 years | ₹300/month | — |
| IGNDPS (Disability Pension Scheme) | BPL disabled 18-79 years | ₹300/month | Severe disability |
| NFBS (National Family Benefit Scheme) | BPL families on breadwinner death (18-60 yrs) | ₹20,000 one-time | — |
Source: Ministry of Rural Development, NSAP Guidelines 2025
Mukhyamantri Vriddhjan Samman Pension Yojana
Rajasthan significantly tops up the central IGNOAPS through the Mukhyamantri Vriddhjan Samman Pension Yojana (MVSPY):
- Eligibility: Age 55+ for women; 58+ for men (below BPL or socially backward categories)
- Monthly pension: ₹750/month (55–74 years for women; 58–74 years for men)
- Monthly pension: ₹1,000/month (75 years and above, all genders)
- Delivered through Jan Aadhaar-linked DBT
The combined central + state pension for Rajasthan elderly (75+, BPL):
- IGNOAPS (Central): ₹500/month
- MVSPY (State): ₹1,000/month
- Total: ₹1,500/month directly to beneficiary's bank account
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY — Ayushman Vay Vandana
Ayushman Vay Vandana was launched October 29, 2024 as an expansion of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY:
- Free health cover ₹5 lakh/year to all senior citizens 70+ irrespective of income (universal coverage)
- Existing PM-JAY beneficiaries 70+ get additional ₹5 lakh top-up (not shared with under-70 family members)
- Covers ~2,000 medical procedures across 27 specialties; no waiting period for pre-existing conditions
- Target: 6 crore senior citizens in 4.5 crore families
- Achievement: 96.73 lakh Ayushman Vay Vandana cards created by December 2025; 7.89 lakh hospital admissions worth ₹1,741 crore authorized (Source: National Health Authority, December 2025)
Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana (MAAY): Previously Chiranjeevi Yojana — covers ₹25 lakh/family/year; senior citizens 70+ on NFSA/SECC rolls get free coverage. (See Topic #38 for full MAAY details.)
Old Age Homes and Institutional Care
Under Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP), the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment funds:
- Old Age Homes (50% central grant): residential care for destitute elderly
- Day Care Centres: non-residential daytime support
- Mobile Medicare Units for elderly in remote areas
Rajasthan operates state-funded Vriddhashrams (old age homes) at district level; NGOs also receive grants under IPOP.
Senior Citizens Act 2007 (Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act) — Legal obligation on adult children to maintain parents; Maintenance Tribunal at sub-divisional level; maximum ₹10,000/month maintenance order (proposed amendment to increase). The 2019 Amendment Bill proposed including spouse, expanding property protection, and a 30-day resolution time.