The Centre on Tuesday decided to extend the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to rickshaw pullers, rag pickers, mine workers, sanitation workers, auto rickshaw drivers and taxi drivers.
The decision would facilitate health insurance cover for these low income groups.The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to cover 13.68 lakh rickshaw drivers/ pullers, 11.63 lakh rag pickers, 17.79 lakh mine workers, 10.08 lakh sanitation workers and 35.39 lakh auto rickshaw/ taxi drivers.
The total financial burden of extending the RSBY to these groups would be around Rs 210 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 419.89 crore from 2014-15 onwards.
The exact amount will be determined on the basis of persons identified and registered under these categories during each preceding year and actual premium rates.
The scheme is being implemented across the country and more than 3.44 crore smart cards have been issued as on March 31.