Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana Strengthens India’s Commitment to Dignified Ageing

PIB Backgrounder Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana Strengthens India’s Commitment to Dignified Ageing Central Government Releases ₹ 77.98 Crore In Grant-In-Aid To 755 Projects Under The Integrated Programme For Senior Citizens For The Quarter Ending 30 September 2026

Posted On: 28 OCT 2026 7:06PM by PIB Delhi Reflecting the Central Government’s continued commitment to senior citizens, an amount of ₹ 77.98 Crore has been released as Grant-In-Aid to 755 projects under the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) component of Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), for the quarter ending 30 September 2026 in the financial year 2026–27.

AVYAY is one of the flagship schemes of the Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment that embodies the principles of ‘Ageing with Dignity’ and ‘Ageing in Place’, recognising the importance of ensuring that older persons can live with respect, security and independence.

A Senior Official in the Ministry said the support is aimed at strengthening service delivery and welfare interventions for senior citizens through assisted institutional care and related facilities.

He said the country is witnessing a significant demographic transition, highlighting the growing need for comprehensive and accessible support systems for senior citizens. He added that with India’s senior citizen population projected to reach 23 crore by 2036, the need for a comprehensive and responsive support system is becoming increasingly important. He said AVYAY seeks to address this emerging demographic challenge by strengthening institutional mechanisms and encouraging community participation, enabling older persons to lead dignified, secure and meaningful lives.

According to Census 2011, India had 10.38 crore people aged 60 years and above, comprising 5.11 Crore Males And 5.27 Crore Females, and the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) highlights functional limitations among a substantial proportion of older persons, underscoring the need for reliable care, healthcare services and community- based support, he said.The Official said increasing urbanisation, migration and the growth of nuclear households are also changing traditional family support structures, making institutional and community-based care increasingly important for the well-being of senior citizens.

He informed that the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) launched in 2021, and subsumed and expanded the earlier National Action Plan for Senior Citizens (NAPSrC), bringing multiple interventions for senior citizens under a unified umbrella scheme.

The Official further said the Scheme aims to provide functional support and promote active ageing by facilitating shelter, food, healthcare and recreational services, while strengthening the capacities of governments, non-governmental organisations, local bodies and communities to support older persons.

The Official noted that under AVAY, the spirit and emotions attached to ageing with dignity focuses on providing respectful and empowering care that recognises the lifelong contributions of senior citizens. Ageing in place promotes an environment in which older persons can continue living safely in their own homes and communities, supported by suitable home modifications and specialised community-based services wherever required, he added.

The Ministry official elaborated that through AVYAY, the Government continues to strengthen the ecosystem of care and support for senior citizens by combining institutional assistance, state-level planning and district-level monitoring. He said the scheme reflects a holistic approach to ageing that places the dignity, well-being, independence and social inclusion of older persons at its centre.

It is pertinent to mention that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, through the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, serves as the nodal authority for AVYA, to undertake policy formulation, financial support, monitoring and overall implementation of the scheme.

The State and Union Territory Governments play an important role through the State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC) component. Under this framework, States and UTs prepare and implement action plans tailored to their respective requirements for seniorcitizen welfare, with financial support from the Ministry for the formulation and implementation of these plans.

At the district level, District Committees chaired by the District Collector or District Magistrate play a key role in the selection of eligible indigent beneficiaries and the monitoring of senior citizen homes. This decentralised framework supports the identification of local needs and strengthens oversight of welfare services at the grassroots level.

***** PR-199-TAR/KV/GA/RK (Release ID: 2329714)Visitor Counter : 296

Read this release in: Urdu Share 625 words | 3 min read