Compassion: Govt promises to bear treatment cost up to Rs 5 lakh of poor

BIVEK MATHUR

JAMMU: Coming up with a compassionate social security scheme, first of its kind, state government today stated that it has readied a proposal to have a cashless State Health Insurance Scheme (SHIS) for Below Poverty Line (BPL) people under which it will bear the treatment cost of sick up to Rs 5 lakhs.
Sajjad Gani Lone, Minister for Social Welfare, ARI and Training, Science and Technology, while replying to the discussion and voting on demands for grants on Social Welfare and Tribal Affairs Department for the year 2017-18, said that state government will soon come up with a SHIS for BPL families. Lone said that a proposal for the SHIS has been readied and discussed with the Chief Minister-Mehbooba Mufti and sent to the concurrence of the Finance Minister-Dr Haseeb A Drabu. "After his (FM's) nod, the state will have its SHIS for BPLs which would be a first of its kind initiative," Lone said.
Under the scheme, he said that the BPL patients suffering with serious Heart, Lungs, Kidneys diseases or any other complications, would be given smart insurance cards to get the treatment benefits of upto Rs 5 lakh at the hospitals.
"I am not hesitating to say this in assembly that we are following a worst legacy since last over 50-60 years under which needy BPLs have to go to the DCs and political representatives to get their nod for the treatment of their relatives. I want to do away with this legacy," Lone said while announcing the SHIS for BPL people of the state.
He said, "I have seen people would go to the DCs concerned and political representatives to seek their help for their treatment and when they (Needy BPL people) used to get the money sanctioned, their relatives would die."
"It pained me to end all the procedural formalities involving the Patwaris, Tehsildars, DCs and political representatives," Lone said.
Under the Marriage Assistance Scheme and Widow Pension Scheme, Lone said that village level Marriage Assistance Committees and Pension Councils and Committees will be constituted from April onwards.
"These councils and committees, to be headed by two prominent village members will end the role of judges and SHOs concerned to certify whether a girl has attained the age of marriage or whether a women is entitled to get the benefits of pension schemes," Lone said.
Lone also said that around 11 Bal Ashrams in Jammu and 12 in Kashmir would be replaced with boarding schools in each division.
"Why to have Bal Ashrams and not a boarding school instead?" Lone said.
He said that within six months, with the help of opposition members, help would be sought from the corporate people under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) head to set up a boarding school in each division.
He however said that state government has also readied to pay the amounts for the establishment of the boarding schools.
"We will start boarding schools in rented accommodations and monitor them from a single place," Lone said.
On irregularities in distribution of ration in anganwaris, he said that Village Level Anganwari Committees will be constituted from April onwards, who will decide everything.
He said that there would be no central level intervention to purchase the ration. "The Village Level Anganwari Committees will purchase ration at the local level and distribute them at their own disposal," Lone said.
The Minister said construction of eight new hostels will be taken up during the coming fiscal to provide boarding and lodging facilities to students from weaker sections of the society.
Lone said to ensure protection of constitutional and legal rights of children in the State, Government has rolled out an Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) in the State. He added the process for appointment of about 380 supporting staff created under the scheme has been initiated for implementation of J&K Juvenile, Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
The Minister informed the House that ICDS Centers would be converted as kindergarten schools in addition to providing supplementary nutrition to the children. He said the centre has recently sanctioned 3361 new ICDS centers to the State, and these would be established soon after conducting proper survey of the habitations where they are required.
Fulfilling the promise made in last Assembly session, the Minister said the old age pension, widow pension and disability pension under NSAP/ISSS schemes has been enhanced from Rs 200 to Rs 1000 per month.
He said the enhancement would benefit about 5.70 lakh people of the State under different categories. He said for its implementation the Government has to bear an expenditure of Rs 683 crore during 2017-18.
The Minister said the State Rehabilitation Council has provided 400 motorized cycles as assistance to victims of violence, adding that a target of 210 motorized tricycles has been projected for financial year 2017-18.
He further said that the Governing Council of SRC has decided to enhance the marriage assistance from Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 for the daughters and young widows of victims of violence.
Highlighting the steps initiated to further streamlining the functioning of Tribal Affairs Department, the Minister said that funding of the Department has been enhanced manifold.
He said the central funding has been enhanced from Rs 45 crore to Rs 98.01 crore while as state funding has been increased from Rs 50 lakh to 23 crores.
"Tribal Affairs has been given independent identity and now it is a full-fledged department with functional presence at the district level for which 56 posts have been created", he added.