Central health scheme to take off soon

The Statesman, Feb 4, 2009
Statesman News Service

BHUBANESWAR, Feb 3: The problems over the BPL list (below poverty line) families and certain other contentious issues seems to have delayed the implementation of Rashtriya Swasthya Beema Yojana ~ a Central scheme ~ which the state government is now keen on launching from 1 April.
According to sources, BPL families of six districts were to be covered in the first phase of the health insurance scheme during 2008-09, but it did not take off as a result of which the state government wants to cover 12 districts in the second phase during 2009-10.
The districts which were to be covered during 2008-09 were Cuttack, Khurda, Ganjam, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Sundergarh. From 1st April these districts and six more ~ Kalahandi, Nuapada, Puri, Deogarh, Jharsuguda and Nayagarh have now been added to the list.
Tenders inviting insurance companies had been floated in September last year and of the nine responses a few have been short listed. The tender will be finalised soon, said these sources.
According to the scheme the beneficiary (a family of five) will contribute only Rs 30 following which registration fee and the premium amount will be shared on a 75:25 basis between the Center and the state government respectively.
The health insurance coverage will be upto Rs 30,000 per family annually. Beneficiaries will be issued smart cards and at the time of being discharged from any hospital they will be provided a transportation fee as well, said these sources.
In another decision taken by the state government, the much delayed welfare fund for building and construction workers has been formed and a board has also been constituted to regulate this.
The fund will be generated by imposing a one per cent of project cost cess on construction sites contractors, except in port and certain other project areas.
The workers, who are to be registered by the district labour office, will be issued an identity card to avail of the benefits from the welfare fund. The benefits include educational benefit for children, maternity benefit for women, financial assistance in case of illness, accidents at worksite among others.