The state government is planning to extend three central government schemes, the Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY), the National Pension Scheme (NPS) and the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to all 98 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration card holders in Karnataka. If these schemes are implemented successfully, Karnataka will become the first state in the country to provide health, life and disability cover and pension to BPL families. The Cabinet is expected to take a decision shortly.
A detailed proposal on this was submitted to the state government on Wednesday. A source who participated in the meeting told Express : “Under the RSBY scheme, health cover is provided to the poor and they are eligible for `30,000 as hospital expenses. While the Union government bears 75 per cent of the cost, the State government has to bear 25 per cent. It is a cash-less insurance scheme made available to poor families.”
Last year, 17.5 lakh RSBY cards were distributed to the poor in the state, but this year the government is planning to cover at least 70 lakh BPL families.
Enrolment for new members to this scheme will be launched in all the villages from July 15 and in three months the department is planning to cover the entire state.
Under the AABY scheme, a beneficiary gets Rs 75,000 as compensation in case of accidental death, Rs 30,000 for natural death and Rs 75,000 for permanent disability. Under NPS, for every Rs 1,000 deposited by beneficiaries in bank accounts to be opened by Labour Department, the Union and state governments will contribute Rs 1,000 each.
The amount to be deposited is left to BPL families depending on their capacity and both the governments will make equal contribution. This scheme is to provide social security to such families.
“For all these three schemes, the State government will get funds from the Union government,” the source said.
When contacted, Labour Commissioner Harsha Gupta, who is also holding charge as food and civil supplies commissioner, confirmed that a detailed proposal has been sent to the government on the issue.