CM hints at adding more beneficiaries to Modicare

Tribune News Service

Karnal, September 23

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday hinted at expanding the list of beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana that aims to provide health insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually.

“Apart from the around 15.5 lakh poor and vulnerable families identified in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC)-2011, the government may include BPL families left out in the survey, around 5.5 lakh labourers registered under the Haryana Labour Welfare Board but not included in the list, victims of the Emergency, heroes of the Second World War, members of the Quit India movement and persons who played an active role during the Hindi Andolan and participated in the Indian National Army (INA),” said the CM.

In a state-level programme, the CM, along with Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya and Health Minister Anil Vij, launched this healthcare scheme for the state from the auditorium of Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College and Hospital (KCGMCH) here. They also dedicated a health and wellness centre at Salwan village along with inaugurating the auditorium of KCGMCH.

Khattar said each beneficiary family would get health insurance benefit in 230 empanelled hospitals — 72 government and 158 private hospitals — across the state. The benefits of the scheme can be availed in any empanelled hospital across the country.

Meanwhile, the live screening of the national launch of the scheme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ranchi, Jharkhand, was also shown at the auditorium.

Khattar, while expressing his gratitude to the PM for initiating this scheme for the nation, said that during the four years, Modi has launched several schemes for the development of the country. “Medical treatment especially in private institutes has become very costly. For treating chronic diseases, family members have to sell their assets. But this scheme will provide respite to such people,” he added. As many as 184 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Mitras have been recruited in these empanelled hospitals to assist the beneficiaries, he said.

He added that as many as 12 health and wellness centres have so far been opened in the PHCs to make the people aware about various diseases. The number would be increased to 30 by November 1 and 300 in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the first beneficiary of the country — an infant Karishma, her mother Mousami and father Amit Kumar who are residents of Ghisarpuri in the district — were honoured by the Governor and CM. A cheque of Rs 21,000 was handed over to them.