Delhi Vayo Anand scheme offers ₹2.4 lakh yearly for senior centres

Recreational centres in Delhi with at least 200 members aged 60 and above can receive ₹20,000 a month under the government’s Vayo Anand scheme.

The ₹2.4 lakh annual assistance, approved by the Cabinet after being announced in this year’s budget, will be paid in two equal half-yearly instalments. Centres must operate from community spaces in Delhi; those run by RWAs, cooperative group housing societies and in spaces such as chaupals may be eligible.

The programme calls for carrom, ludo, reading material, televisions and computers, along with yoga, meditation, fitness sessions, monthly medical camps and first-aid kits. Centres may also organise outings, storytelling, painting, craft, pottery and nutritional counselling, and hold five to six programmes a year around festivals and occasions including International Yoga Day and Senior Citizens’ Day.

Centres must run at least five days a week for seven hours a day between 7am and 8pm. Ground-floor premises or buildings with lifts will be preferred, and operators must maintain contact with nearby police stations and hospitals for emergencies. The government said it will prioritise programmes for women, persons with disabilities and transgender senior citizens.