NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday approved a number of mega schemes including universal health coverage to all the senior citizens aged 70 years and above under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). It will include an additional cost of Rs 3,437 crore.
Expansion of the coverage of eligible 25,000 unconnected habitations under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) at a cost of Rs 70,125 crore and budgetary support for enabling infrastructure for hydro electric projects with a total outlay of Rs.12461 crore have also been announced.
Briefing media after the meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, the AB PM-JAY aims to benefit approximately 4.5 crore families including six crore senior citizens with Rs 5 Lakh rupees free health insurance cover on a family basis.
“With this approval, all senior citizens of 70 years and above irrespective of their socio- economic status would be eligible to avail the benefits under the scheme. The eligible senior citizens would also be issued a new distinct card,” the minister said.
Senior citizens, who are 70 years and above and belonging to families already covered under the scheme, will get an additional top-up cover up to Rs 5 lakh per year for themselves, which they do not have to share with the other members of the family, the Minister informed.
Further clarifying, Vaishnaw said, senior citizens, who are already availing benefits of other public health insurance schemes such as Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) may either choose their existing scheme or can opt for the AB PM-JAY.
It has also been clarified that senior citizens of 70 years and above covered under private health insurance policies or Employees’ State Insurance scheme will also be eligible to avail benefits under the scheme.
The Ayushman Bharat Yojana is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme which provides health cover for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 55 crore individuals corresponding to 12.34 crore families. The scheme has so far covered 7.37 crore hospital admissions. It includes 49 percent women beneficiaries.
Under the expanded PMGSY the government has approved construction of 62,500 kms of rural roads to connect 25,000 unconnected eligible habitations with a total outlay of this Rs. 70,125 crore of which the central share is Rs. 49,087.50 crore and state's share is Rs. 21,037.50 crore, the Minister said.
Providing the details of the criteria for selection of habitations, the minister said that the road connectivity will be provided to population size of 500+ in plains, 250+ in NE and Hill States/UTs, special category areas (Tribal Schedule V, Aspirational Districts/Blocks, Desert areas) and 100+ in LWE affected districts, as per Census 2011.
In another decision the Union cabinet approved a scheme of budgetary support for the cost of enabling infrastructure for the HEP with a total outlay of Rs.12461 crore and this will be implemented between financial year 2024-25 and 2031-32.
The Union Cabinet also approved ‘Mission Mausam’ with an outlay of Rs. 2,000 crore over two years, Vaishnaw said, adding that it is envisaged to be a multi-faceted and transformative initiative to tremendously boost India’s weather and climate-related science, research, and services.
“It will help to better equip stakeholders, including citizens and last-mile users, in tackling extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change. The ambitious programme will help broaden capacity and resilience across communities, sectors, and ecosystems in the long run,” he noted.