Centre expands welfare schemes for elderly and disabled in Northeast India
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Schemes
Why in news
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has expanded welfare initiatives for senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Assam and other northeastern states. This was announced in a Rajya Sabha reply by Minister of State Ramdas Athawale on July 27, 2026.
Background
The Ministry implements several schemes for the welfare of senior citizens and persons with disabilities across India. In the Northeast, specific allocations and initiatives have been made to address regional needs.
Key facts
Under the National Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), assistive devices worth ₹63.67 crore were distributed to 73,572 senior citizens in the Northeast over the last five years.
The Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) provides financial assistance for housing, nutrition, healthcare, and recreation to needy senior citizens through the Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC).
In Assam alone, over 1.03 lakh beneficiaries were covered under IPSrC in the last five financial years.
Under the ADIP scheme, 81,551 persons with disabilities in the Northeast received assistive devices, including 71,131 in Assam at a cost of ₹6,199.86 lakh.
Under SIPDA's awareness component, 26 awareness programmes were held in the Northeast from 2022-23 to July 10, 2026, with grants exceeding ₹1.01 crore.
In 2025-26, 545 students with disabilities in Assam received scholarships worth ₹2.01 crore under the Scholarship Scheme for Persons with Disabilities.
Two Cross Disability Early Intervention Centres operate in the Northeast at CRC Guwahati (Assam) and CRC Imphal (Manipur), receiving financial assistance of ₹72,07,540 and ₹36,73,132 respectively over five years.
The National Trust continues to implement DISHA, SAMARTH, and Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme in the Northeast; currently, six DISHA centres and one SAMARTH centre are operational in Assam.
Under the State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC), cumulative financial assistance of over ₹48 crore was released nationwide in the last five years, benefiting northeastern states.
Prelims pointers
- National Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): free assistive devices for BPL senior citizens with age-related disabilities
- Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY): integrated welfare for senior citizens
- Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC): housing, nutrition, healthcare
- ADIP scheme: Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances
- SIPDA: Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act
- DISHA, SAMARTH, Niramaya: schemes under the National Trust
- CRC: Composite Regional Centre for persons with disabilities
- Cross Disability Early Intervention Centres: located at Guwahati and Imphal
- Scholarship Scheme for Persons with Disabilities
- State Action Plan for Senior Citizens (SAPSrC)
Mains angles
- Evaluate the effectiveness of government welfare schemes for senior citizens and persons with disabilities in the Northeast region.
- Discuss the challenges in implementing disability welfare schemes in remote areas and suggest measures for improvement.
- Analyze the role of early intervention centres in promoting inclusive education for children with disabilities.