Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens
Also called: IPSrC · Topic: Safeguards for Vulnerable Sections: SCs, STs, OBCs, Minorities, Women and Children · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) is a part of AVYAY (Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana). AVYAY is the main scheme for senior citizens run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Under IPSrC, the government gives grant-in-aid to NGOs. Grant-in-aid is money the government gives an organisation to help it run a service. The NGOs use it to run senior citizen homes and continuous care homes. These homes give free shelter, food and medical care to indigent older persons, meaning those who are very poor and have no one to support them. The programme helps meet the aim of Art. 41, which asks the state to give public assistance in old age.
Example
AVYAY came into force on 1 April 2021. By 2026, senior citizen homes supported under it were running in 435 districts. Another 30 "gap districts" that had no such home were being added.
Don't confuse with
- Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana: another part of AVYAY. It gives free assistive devices to BPL seniors who have age-related disabilities. It does not run homes or provide shelter.
- Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan: a campaign under AVYAY to build bonds between generations through volunteers called Vayo SAATHI. It does not fund care homes.