Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) rolled out in southern Assam’s aspirational Hailakandi district following its formal launching on Sunday.
At a central function held at Rabindra Bhawan in Hailakandi town, local MLA Anwar Hussain Laskar and Deputy Commissioner Adil Khan formally launched the scheme in the district.
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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.
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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 from bed charges and drugs and diagnostics two days before, and 15 days after hospitalization. PMJAY will provide an annual health cover of up to Rs.5 lakh per family.
Joint Director, 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 local MLA, Deputy Commissioner and other dignitaries to 10 numbers of beneficiaries on the occasion.
Altogether 50 crore people in 26 states will be covered under the mega scheme. 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 the health cards from the Gaon Panchayat and Block Development Offices from September 25 to October 5.