Kerala is No 1; additional 11 crore allocated to expand facilities including free treatment and medicine for people above 65 years of age residing in urban areas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Dr. R Bindu, the Minister for Social Justice, has announced that an additional Rs 11 crore has been allocated to the Vayomithram project, implemented by the Kerala Social Security Mission under the Department of Social Justice for the welfare of senior citizens. Including this, a total of Rs 22 crore has been earmarked for the project in the current financial year.

The Vayomithram project provides free medical treatment, free medicines, counselling, palliative care, and help desk services to senior citizens aged 65 and above residing in urban areas through mobile clinics. The minister also stated that the project, which has already been extended to all municipal areas in the state, has now been initiated in three block panchayats as well.

In addition to free medical services, the project also organizes programs aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of senior citizens, as well as speciality medical camps. The Social Security Mission is working to develop the project into a platform for collective engagement of senior citizens in urban areas through public participation, the minister added.

The state received the Central Government's Vayoshreshtha Samman award for successfully implementing welfare schemes for senior citizens, including the Vayomithram project.