New Delhi: The Delhi government is rolling out a new scheme called ‘Vayo Anand’ to give senior citizens a dedicated space to relax, socialise and stay active. The plan involves setting up recreational centres across the city where elderly residents can spend their free time, play indoor games, and connect with others their age.
To encourage healthy living, these centres will also offer yoga and meditation sessions, along with monthly medical camps and first-aid facilities. The government will additionally provide funding to organisations that run these centres.
What the centres will offer
Chief minister Rekha Gupta called senior citizens an invaluable part of society, saying her government is committed to their dignity, health, and active social life.
The centres will be equipped with games like carrom and ludo, comfortable seating, fans, coolers, TVs, and computers. There will also be newspapers, magazines, and books on hand, so visitors have plenty of ways to spend their time. Special days like International Yoga Day and Senior Citizens’ Day, along with national festivals, will be celebrated there too.
These spaces will stay open between 7 am and 8 pm, at least five days a week, for a minimum of seven hours daily. To make things easier for the elderly, the government will prioritise centres on the ground floor or in buildings with lifts, and ensure proper ventilation and washroom facilities.
Funding and eligibility
Under the scheme, eligible centres will receive Rs 2.40 lakh a year — about Rs 20,000 a month — paid out in two half-yearly instalments. This support is meant for centres serving senior citizens aged 60 and above.
Centre operators will need to ensure all the promised facilities are in place, and the centres must be based in Delhi, ideally in community spaces. The scheme may also extend to centres run through RWAs, CGHS societies, or local chaupals.
CM Gupta said the goal is simple: give senior citizens a safe, nearby place where they can spend time with peers, stay engaged in recreational and health activities, avoid loneliness and lead a more active social life.
(with inputs from agencies)
