J&K gets revamped grievance redressal system, health insurance scheme for all

SRINAGAR: In a major reform undertaken to decentralize the Grievance Redress Mechanism by mapping nearly 1500 public offices in 20 districts of the UT at the one end and Centre government at the other end, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday launched the Jammu & Kashmir Integrated Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (JK-IGRAMS).
In another significant development, the LG also announced a free of cost universal health insurance scheme, on the lines of the Centre's Ayushman Bharat, to cover the entire population of the Union territory at an annual expenditure of Rs 123 crore.
Both these crucial announcements were made by Sinha at a press conference—hi first as the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir--at Raj Bhavan Auditorium.
Carrying out a comprehensive overhaul of Grievance Redress & Monitoring Mechanism to make the existing mechanism more robust and efficient, the LG today launched the JK-IGRAMS.
The Revamped System aims to decentralize the handling and redressal of Public grievances by making Deputy Commissioners as the primary level of receiving, disposing and monitoring grievances.
As such, the existing Portal has now been integrated downwards to the district level by mapping another nearly 1500 public offices in 20 districts of the Union Territory.
“From existing 250 to proposed 1500 offices, which is the widest possible coverage that has been conceived and enabled in the online management of public grievances in J&K making it the first online grievance management system in the country that is linked with Central government (at the top) and districts and even further downwards to the Tehsils and Blocks (at the bottom),” an official spokesman said.
Besides, the administrative secretaries of various departments figuring in the middle of the flow-chain are also linked to the mechanism.
In addition to that, the new system would be available 24*7 with applicant OTP authentication, acknowledgement to applicant at each stage, feedback by complainant and on top of that grievance submission through call center by making a phone call between 9.30 AM -5.30 PM on all days except Sunday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor said that Government is committed to undertake all radical reforms to put in place People-Centric Good Governance structure that has an institutionalized grievance redressal mechanism, which he observed as the most important component of a well governed responsive administration and an indicator of efficiency and effectiveness of administrative processes.
Terming it as a step towards gaining the Peoples’ trust, the Lt Governor remarked that an effective grievance redressal mechanism is the lifeblood of any Good Governance System and is the top priority for the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. A common citizen wants a sympathetic, courteous, responsive, and helpful administrative setup, he maintained.
The LG said monitoring dashboards will be with him and the chief secretary as well. "We may call some people to check the veracity of the official reports about disposal of grievances," he added.
The new system is being launched on pilot basis initially for three districts of Jammu, Srinagar, and Reasi and will gradually be rolled out in the remaining districts by or before 2nd October, 2020.It will replace the current Portal which was launched by the government in 2018.
In another significant development, Sinha announced the Jammu and Kashmir Health Scheme in order to provide universal health Insurance coverage to all the residents of the Union Territory, in a major step towards the overall welfare of residents of J&K and facilitating affordable healthcare facilities.
"Today, we have approved an important public health benefit proposal which is probably the first of its kind in the entire country. The Jammu and Kashmir Health Scheme will provide universal health coverage to nearly 70 lakh residents of the Union territory who are not covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme," Sinha told reporters.
The Lt Governor observed that people’s welfare is the core agenda of the Government and the Government will ensure that all workable reforms and benefits percolate to each and every resident hassle free. Terming the scheme as a major support for facilitating the healthcare and benefit to all the residents, even from the most relegated sections of the society, Government is committed to improve the overall standard of life of the citizens, he maintained.
The LG invited suggestions from the public for naming the JK Health Scheme. "We would like the name to be suggested by the people. A committee will be formed which will select the best name," he added.
Enumerating the salient features of the scheme, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha added that the J&K Health Scheme will provide health insurance cover free of cost to all the uncovered residents of J&K presently not covered under AB-PMJAY.“Jammu and Kashmir Health Scheme will provide universal health insurance coverage to all the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. This will be implemented in convergence with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY),” he said.
While giving details about the health scheme, Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo informed the media persons that the scheme would also include even employees and retirees from Government Services of J&K and their families. It will have the same benefits as available under AB-PMJAY with an annual health insurance cover of Rs. 5.00 lakh per family on floater basis,” he said.
He stated that the scheme will cover about 15 lakh families over and above the 5.97 lakh families already covered under AB-PMJAY. Besides,1592 Medical Packages have already been approved under AB-PMJAY to which all the beneficiaries of J&K Health Scheme will have access.
Atal Dulloo further said that in addition, the packages of life consuming diseases such as cancer and kidney failure and treatment of Covid-19 are also covered under the Scheme.
He further explained that all high-end treatments of Oncology, Cardiology and Nephrology will be covered from day one while the high-end diagnostic treatments during hospitalization will also be covered.
According to the scheme there shall be no restriction on the family size or age and all the pre-existing medical conditions shall be covered under the scheme.
The scheme shall cover 3 days of pre-hospitalization, hospitalization and 15 days of post hospitalization including diagnostic care and expenditure on medicines.
Atal Dulloo also pointed out that at present there are about 23,300 empanelled hospitals across India where this facility can be availed and these include 218 public and private hospitals already empanelled in J&K.
He said that the Administrative Council has also decided that the health department will be launching a beneficiary registration drive to distribute Golden Cards (e-cards) amongst the beneficiaries soon.
The Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data will be used for identification of families for the scheme while the families suffering from any of the deprivations defined under SECC are already covered under AB-PMJAY. “However, under J&K Health Scheme, the remaining families including those who do not suffer from any deprivation will also be covered. In case, any family is left out from the database of SECC 2011, the procedure for inclusion in the database has also been approved” he informed.
He also informed that the annual financial implication for JK Health Scheme would be Rs 123 Crore.
Under J&K Health Scheme, portability option will be available as applicable under AB-PMJAY, which will allow the beneficiary families to avail cashless service from any of the health care providers empanelled under AB-PMJAY across the country.
Atal Dulloo added that the Scheme shall be implemented through an insurance service provider discovered through transparent competitive bidding viz. M/S Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Ltd.