Nadda Launches Ayushman Bharat Scheme In Odisha, Says Bengal Next In Line: ‘Govts That Put Hurdles Paid Price’
Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda launched Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Odisha, aiming to provide annual health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family. He criticised West Bengal for not implementing the scheme.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Friday launched the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Odisha, nearly ten months after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in the state. He expressed hope that West Bengal, the only remaining state yet to implement the flagship health insurance scheme, would soon follow suit.
The scheme, described as the world’s largest government healthcare initiative, aims to provide annual health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family. Nadda said that as many as 61 crore people across the country are currently availing benefits under the scheme, with the Union government having spent ₹1.26 lakh crore over the past six years for the treatment of economically disadvantaged individuals.
Speaking at the event, Nadda criticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal for repeatedly turning down the Centre’s appeal to implement the scheme. “There were three states – Odisha, Delhi and West Bengal – where the Ayushman Bharat scheme was not implemented. However, the scheme came into operation in Odisha and Delhi after the change of government in these states. The people of Bengal will also get the facility and the BJP is committed to provide this health scheme to all the citizens of India,” he remarked, as per news agency PTI.
Asserting that the BJP government had fulfilled its promises to the people of Odisha, the minister said, “The state governments which put hurdles before implementation of the Narendra Modi government’s welfare schemes have paid a price. The people have rejected the governments in Odisha and also in Delhi.”
In February, the BJP returned to power in Delhi after more than 26 years, defeating the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party with a two-thirds majority.
Recounting his earlier efforts to push for the scheme’s implementation, Nadda said, “We have requested Naveen Babu several times, but he claimed that his BJD government’s health scheme was better than Ayushman Bharat. Similar was the case of Kejriwal.” He further noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Ayushman Bharat Scheme in Ranchi in September 2018, but three states had initially refused to implement it — two of which have since seen a change in leadership.
Calling the launch a historic moment for Odisha, Nadda announced that 3.51 crore people from 1.03 lakh families in the state will benefit from the Ayushman Bharat scheme, along with other initiatives such as the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana and the state-run Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY). “Each member of a family will get separate cards and they can avail the health service facility in 30,000 government and private hospitals across the country. I understand that many people from Odisha work in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and other places. They all can avail of this facility,” he said.
BJD Blocked Ayushman Bharat Scheme For 'Political Reasons': CM Mohan Charan Majhi
The launch ceremony was held in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who accused the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government of blocking the scheme due to “political reasons,” resulting in hardship for the people. “However, after installation of the double engine government (in Odisha), the people are getting benefits earlier denied to them,” Majhi said, .
Highlighting the steps taken to improve healthcare infrastructure, Majhi stated, “Today our government completes 10 months and during this period, we have filled up 4,000 posts including doctors in the healthcare facilities,” adding that 5,374 doctors and dentists will be recruited very soon.
He also announced plans to expand medical education in the state, with 12 medical colleges currently functioning and two more expected to become operational soon. Budgetary allocations have also been made for new medical colleges in Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Nabarangpur, and Dhenkanal districts, along with four dental colleges.
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