Delhi Government to Launch Vayo Anand Scheme for Senior Citizens

The Delhi government will launch the ‘Vayo Anand’ scheme to develop recreational centres for senior citizens across the city, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) announced on Friday, August 28, 2026. The centres are designed to provide elderly residents with dedicated spaces to play indoor games, interact with peers, and take part in social activities.

Under the initiative, the government will provide financial assistance of ₹2.4 lakh to organisations running these recreational centres. The facilities will be equipped with seating arrangements, fans, coolers, televisions, and computers, alongside indoor games such as carrom and ludo. Newspapers, magazines, and books will be stocked at the venues, and regular yoga and meditation classes will also be organised for visitors.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that senior citizens are an invaluable asset to society, adding that ensuring their dignity, health, active lifestyle, and social engagement remains a key priority for her administration.

According to an official statement, the recreational centres must remain open for at least five days a week and operate for a minimum of seven hours daily between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. To qualify under the scheme, each centre must cater to at least 200 registered members aged 60 years or above.

The guidelines mandate that centres feature proper ventilation and toilet facilities. To ensure accessibility for elderly visitors, preference will be given to centres situated on the ground floor or in buildings fitted with operational lifts.

The government highlighted that priority will be given to organising specific programmes for women, persons with disabilities, and transgender senior citizens. Furthermore, to address health and safety concerns, each centre will maintain direct contact with nearby police stations and hospitals to ensure swift assistance during emergencies.