SILCHAR, Sept 23 - Along with the rest of the nation, Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the flagship health scheme introduced by the Government of India ensuring medical treatment for the downtrodden, was simultaneously launched in Cachar district today.
Addressing a gathering at the auditorium of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), Cachar Deputy Commissioner Dr S Laxmanan said that as many as 1,44,790 families in Cachar district will be covered under the health insurance scheme.
�This is by far the biggest health insurance scheme which would cater to the BPL families enlisted as per the 2011 socio-economic caste census. Out of the 10 crore people who have been included in the scheme, 27 lakh beneficiaries are from Assam, who would get free treatment upto Rs 5 lakh for 25 categories of ailments, including surgery, orthopaedics, cardiac complications etc,� Dr Laxmanan said.
He was quick to inform that people can avail the facilities by producing and registering their AB-PMJAY cards at the SMCH from October 15 onwards. The services shall also be available at some private hospitals with minimum 20 beds and 24x7 availability of doctors which are empanelled as per norms, he said.
Further, the Deputy Commissioner informed that the State Government has decided that the Atal-Amrit Yojana with an annual financial support upto Rs 2 lakh for six specific ailments and the AB-PMJAY shall be simulteneously operational in the State.
�While the annual benefit under Atal-Amrit Yojana is meant for every individual member in the family, the AB-PMJAY will cover the medical expenses of the entire family and according to Government instructions, both schemes shall be open for people in the State,� he added.
Dr Shilpi Rani Barman, Principal of SMCH termed this initiative as a pathbreaking event in the domain of medical care and urged upon the doctors to step up and participate for the larger interest.
Dr AS Baishya, Superintendent of SMCH informed that treatment for pregnant woman and children will also be a part of the scheme.
Former Union Minister and veteran BJP leader Kabindra Purakayastha, district BJP president Kaushik Rai, chairperson of Silchar Municipal Board NN Tagore attended the ocassion along with ADC (Health) Rajib Roy, Dr Sudip Jyoti Das, Joint Director of Health Services, Cachar, and Dr Bimaljyoti Deb Sikidar, District Nodal Officer of AB-PMJAY.
IN BARPETA: The Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched in Barpeta district today along with the rest of the country, our Correspondent adds.
Gunindra Nath Das, MLA of Barpeta constituency inaugurated the scheme at a function held in the auditorium of the District Library which was presided over by Deputy Commissioner of Barpeta-cum- president of the District Health Society.
In his speech, Das reminded the audience that Ayushman Bharat was the biggest health insurance scheme in the world and lauded the Prime Minister for initiating it.
Stating that health is the most precious wealth for a human being, Das felt that it will definitely help the poor people of the country much more than being provided with only yarn and blankets.
Addressing the meet, Jitu Talukdar, vice president of Assam Industrial Development Corporation and social worker Sankar Das termed the Prime Minister as the true friend of the poor.
Former MLA of Chenga constituency Liakat Ali Khan and Additional Deputy Commissioner Pulak Patgiri were also present in the meeting. Dr Pramathesh Sarma, Joint Director of Health Services, Barpeta district, delivered the welcome address at the outset.
It may be mentioned here that 1.67 lakh people will be benefitted in Barpeta district under this scheme.
IN DHUBRI: Along with other parts of the country, Ayushman Bharat was launched here too, our Correspondent adds. The scheme will benefit 1.44 lakh families in the district.
IN UDALGURI: The much-awaited mega health scheme of the Government of India known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana under Ayushman Bharat was formally launched here today, our Correspondent adds.
The programme was attended by a large number of people from all walks of life and formally launched by Lwmshrao Daimari, Executive Member of BTC for PHED and Excise. The programme, organised by Udalguri District Health Society under the National Health Mission was attended by Dilip Kumar Das, Deputy Commissioner of Udalguri district, Robinson Mochahari, Secretary of BTC, Ripen Daimari, MCLA of BTC, Bhaskarjyoti Manta, Project Director of DRDA, Udalguri, among many others.
Launching the programme, Daimari hoped that the scheme would be able to cover the total population of the district, besides the poor people who earlier could not afford costly treatment.
Earlier, people who attended the programme witnessed the grand central inaugural programme today by the Prime Minister at Prabhat Tara Maidan at Jharkhand in Ranchi on a large LED screen. Dr Tayabur Rahman, Joint Director of Health Services of Udalguri district accorded a warm welcome to the guests on the occasion.
It may be mentioned that in Udalguri district, a total of 4.25 lakh Atal Amrit Yojana cards were distributed this year among the beneficiaries and it is hoped that more than six lakh people of the district would be connected with the PMJAY in the first half during the current year.
During inauguration, only 26 cards were distributed among the beneficiaries. The cards will be distributed from the concerned NHM offices from tomorrow.
IN KOKRAJHAR: Along with other parts of the nation, Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB- PMJAY), which will provide coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary treatment, was launched today at a function held at the Bodofa Cultural Complex at Chandmari in Kokrajhar, our Correspondent adds.
As per norms and guidelines of this scheme, the eligible people suffering from diseases like cancer, burn, cardio, urology, neurological problems etc., would be able to avail treatment at all Government and empanelled hospitals upto Rs 5 lakh.
This scheme will offer health coverage to more than 80,000 families in Kokrajhar district based on the socio-economic and caste census (SECC), 2011 data.
During the programme, 11 Family Health Cards with unique number for cashless treatment of all family members under this scheme were ceremonially distributed among eligible individuals by chief guest Hagrama Mohilary, Chief of BTC in the presence of BTC Executive Member Doneswar Goyary, BTC Principal Secretary Biren Chandra Phukan, Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner Niranjan Baruah, Joint Secretary Dinesh Boro, ADCs Prafulla Chandra Barman, Debeswar Bora, Bhaskar Das, DRDA Project Director Pranjit Wary and other dignitaries.
Telecast of the central function at Jharkhand was also screened on the occasion.
IN HAILAKANDI: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) was rolled out in southern Assam�s aspirational district today, our Correspondent adds.
At a central function held at the Rabindra Bhawan here, local MLA Anwar Hussain Laskar and Deputy Commissioner Adil Khan formally launched the scheme in the district.
Addressing the gathering, MLA Laskar said the health initiative under Ayushman Bharat will have a positive impact on the poor and will enable them to lead healthier lives.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Khan said PMJAY is one of the largest Government healthcare schemes of its kind in the world initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which would provide health cover to the poor and marginalised segments of the society.
Khan asked the Block Development Officers and Gaon Panchayat Secretaries to work in tandem with the health authorities for smooth and hassle-free distribution of PMJAY cards to the beneficiaries at the grassroot level.
In Hailakandi district, 55,736 families out of a total population of 6.59 lakh covering 323 villages are eligible for the scheme. The beneficiaries, identified from the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011, get �gold cards� which entitle them to reimbursements for bed charges, drugs and diagnostics two days before, and 15 days after hospitalisation. PMJAY will provide an annual health cover of upto Rs 5 lakh per family.
Joint Director of Health Services Dr Avijit Basu, Additional Deputy Commissioner EL Fairhiem, district BJP president Subrata Nath, Khitish Ranjan Paul, former Joint Director of Health Services Hirak Chakraborty and other prominent citizens were present at the inaugural function.
Health cards were distributed by the local MLA, DC and other dignitaries to 10 beneficiaries on the occasion.
Around 50 crore people in 26 States will be covered under the mega scheme. In all, 8,012 Government and private hospitals have been empanelled across the country, out of which about 50% are in the private sector alone. In Assam, 24 lakh families would come under the purview of the scheme.
District Media Expert Monika Das informed that the selected beneficiaries can collect their health cards from the Gaon Panchayat and Block Development offices from September 25 upto October 5.
IN DHEMAJI: Along with the rest of the country, the district Health Department today launched Prime Minister Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) under Ayushman Bharat Mission here, our Correspondent adds.
Speaking on the occasion at Dhemaji Public Auditorium in the presence of Health Department staff and other public, Dhemaji MLA Dr Ronuj Pegu said it was a historic step towards universal health insurance taken up by the Central Government. He urged the Government officials and elite citizens to make the common people aware about the flagship scheme so as to derive its benefits.
The MLA cleared the difference between earlier Atal Amrit Yojana and PM-JAY and said that Atal Amrit Yojana covered health insurance of an individual, while the new scheme covers all family members.
�The earlier scheme assured reimbursement of maximum Rs 2 lakh against medical treatment and the new one will cover Rs 5 lakh reimbursement against medical cost against five family members for a year. All families enlisted in BPL category in the socio-economic & caste census-2011 may avail the scheme�s benefit�, he clarified.
MLA Pegu also said that beneficiaries of the scheme should inquire if any particular hospital is empanelled with the Government and whether a particular disease or ailment is treated in the hospital before being admitted for treatment.
On the occasion, Dhemaji Joint Director of Health Services Dr Ranjit Kakati informed that the benefit of the PM-JAY scheme will cover 62,000 families in the district and the facility would be available in all Government hospitals and medical colleges in the first phase.
�The district Health Department is ready to hand over Golden Cards to the selected families�, he informed.
Dhemaji Additional Deputy Commissioner PK Das, who is incharge DC, urged all concerned to work for successful implementation of the flagship scheme and ensure that the benefits percolated to the actual poor and needy people.
Among others, Jonai SDO(C) Nisarge Hivare, Dhemaji Town Development Committee chairman Tulan Konwar and others also attended the programme.
