Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury inaugurates AVYAY Awareness Camp in Ranirbazar, boosting senior citizen welfare, financial security, healthcare access, and social inclusion under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana across Tripura.
Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Friday inaugurated an awareness-cum-interaction camp under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) at Ranirbazar, underscoring the government’s renewed push to enhance the welfare and dignity of senior citizens across Tripura.
The Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, launched in April 2021 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is a comprehensive central initiative aimed at ensuring financial security, accessible healthcare, social inclusion, and protection for citizens aged 60 years and above. The scheme focuses on empowering elderly citizens by strengthening support systems at community and institutional levels.
Addressing the gathering at Ranirbazar Municipality, Minister Chowdhury highlighted that senior citizens remain a vital pillar of society whose contributions must be acknowledged and respected. He emphasized that AVYAY is not merely a welfare program but a commitment to safeguarding the rights, dignity, and well-being of the elderly population.
“Our senior citizens deserve not only care but also respect and dignity. AVYAY has been designed to secure their rights and ensure they remain socially included and financially supported,” Chowdhury said during his address. He further noted that such initiatives reflect the government’s long-term vision of inclusive development and social responsibility.
The awareness camp served as a platform for interaction between beneficiaries and officials, providing clarity on available benefits, healthcare assistance, and social security provisions. Officials present at the event elaborated on the scheme’s components, including support for old age homes, mobile medical units, helplines, and capacity-building programs for caregivers.
In addition to launching the AVYAY awareness drive, the minister also distributed financial assistance under various state welfare schemes. Under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha project, eligible beneficiaries received cheques worth ₹50,000 each to support marriage-related expenses. Furthermore, differently abled citizens were provided financial assistance of ₹5,000 each under the social pension scheme.
Chowdhury remarked that welfare initiatives must transcend political considerations. “When it comes to supporting the elderly and vulnerable sections of society, we must rise above politics. Ensuring dignity, financial stability, and healthcare access for senior citizens is our collective responsibility,” he stated.
Local officials confirmed that similar awareness camps will soon be organized in other municipalities across Tripura to widen the outreach of AVYAY and strengthen grassroots-level awareness. The administration aims to ensure that eligible senior citizens, especially those in semi-urban and rural areas, can access government support without procedural hurdles.
The event witnessed participation from municipal authorities, social welfare officials, beneficiaries, and community representatives. The initiative is expected to significantly enhance awareness about senior citizen rights, entitlements, and social protection mechanisms in the state.
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With India’s elderly population steadily rising, initiatives such as AVYAY are seen as critical interventions in building a socially secure and inclusive society. The Ranirbazar camp marks another step in Tripura’s efforts to ensure that senior citizens lead lives marked by dignity, security, and respect.
