Vaya Vandana Yojana Kicks In For City's Elderly

The Delhi government on Monday launched the Vaya Vandana Yojana, a health insurance-cum-pension scheme for senior citizens, in the Capital by distributing 32 Ayushman Bharat cards to eligible elderly residents.

- Ridhima Gupta

NEW DELHI:

All Delhi residents aged 70 and above, regardless of income, are eligible for the card. Beneficiaries can avail of free treatment worth up to ₹10 lakh — ₹5 lakh from the Centre and ₹5 lakh top-up from the Delhi government.

At the card distribution event at Thyagraj Stadium, attended by Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi health minister Pankaj Singh, and other senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, officials announced that anyone above 70 can now register for it.

Gupta said an enrollee must meet two criteria: being a Delhi resident and possessing an Aadhaar card. She added that nearly 100 hospitals are empanelled under the scheme. "Seniors are the roots of our society, and taking care of their every need is our top priority. The country's development is only possible when every segment of society receives respect and facilities, and the 'Vaya Vandana' card is a strong step in this direction," she said.

Taking a dig at the previous administration, Gupta said the former government's "arrogance" had delayed the scheme's implementation for years. "Today, I want to clearly state that Delhi will now make its own decisions, and no citizen's rights will be taken away. This government stands with its senior citizens and is fully committed to protecting their dignity and rights," she said, adding that cardholders will be entitled to free check-ups, medicines, and emergency care at any empanelled hospital.