Delhi senior citizen centres to get Rs 2.4 lakh annual aid

Delhi's Vayo Anand scheme will provide senior citizen recreation centres with annual government assistance of Rs 2.4 lakh for maintenance, facilities and social activities. Eligible centres must have at least 200 members aged 60 and above, operate in Delhi and meet specified management and activity requirements.Image used for representational purposeNewdelhi,Oct 8, 2026 00:14 ISTSenior citizen recreation centres in Delhi can get government support of Rs 2.40 lakh a year under the Vayo Anand scheme to run and maintain facilities for elderly people, according to a Gazette notification. The assistance can be used for furniture, indoor games, coolers, televisions, computers, newspapers, refreshments, medical camps and first-aid kits, besides activities aimed at relaxation and social engagement.The Department of Social Welfare notified the scheme in the Delhi Gazette on September 17 to provide financial assistance to senior citizen welfare organisations and recreation centres. The aim is to help maintain such centres, support social and recreational facilities, and integrate senior citizens with social and neighbourhood groups.According to the notification, the annual grant can also be used for rent, sanitation staff, water dispensers, chairs and tables, carpets and mats, fans, projectors, Wi-Fi, cable television and other recurring requirements. Eligible centres can organise yoga and meditation classes, health and fitness camps, outdoor tours, indoor and outdoor games, painting, crafts, pottery and nutrition counselling.The centres can also hold storytelling sessions involving schoolchildren and children in institutional homes run by the government or NGOs. They are required to organise activities linked to the International Day of Yoga, International Day for Older Persons and National Day for Senior Citizens, along with national and religious festivals, tree plantation drives, retirement and bereavement counselling, and at least five to six events every year. To qualify, an applicant organisation must be registered under the Society Registration Act, 1860, and its recreation centre must have at least 200 members aged 60 years and above. The notification said members in this age group can belong to only one organisation or recreation centre. The organisation or centre must be located within the National Capital Territory of Delhi and function from a government or private community space. Centres operating from independent households are not covered, and applications must carry the recommendation of the MLA of the area concerned.The scheme covers open or closed community spaces owned or rented by RWAs or CGHSs, as well as other community spaces such as chaupals. A senior citizen under the scheme has been defined as any male, female or transgender person aged 60 years or above. Each centre must form a five-member Management Committee of senior citizens, including at least one female and one transgender senior citizen, to oversee correspondence with the Social Welfare Department, maintain records and ensure submission of mandatory documents. The grant will be released in two equal half-yearly instalments. The first instalment will be based on the annual inspection report of the District Social Welfare Officer, while the second will require a Utilisation Certificate certified by the Management Committee and verified by the officer. Overall, the Vayo Anand scheme sets out financial support, eligibility rules and activity requirements for senior citizen recreation centres across Delhi.- Ends