Only Aware Citizens, Middlemen Got Govt Scheme Benefits In Past, PM Modi Says At Launch Of PMJAY-MA Yojana Cards

PM Modi distributed Ayushman cards to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana–Ma Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme in Gujarat on Monday.

A file photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Source : PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a dig at the previous Congress regime, on Monday said benefits of government schemes went to only a few aware citizens and middlemen in the past, PTI reported. Addressing an event in Gujarat where he distributed Ayushman cards to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana–Ma Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme, PM Modi said the government now goes to doors to give such benefits.

"Under previous governments, they used to meet in a big convention centre to announce a scheme, light a lamp, and leaders used to give good lectures and that's all. After that only a few aware citizens and middlemen used to get the benefits of such schemes. The benefits hardly used to reach the needy people," PTI quoted PM Modi as saying.

"Now, the government goes to every house, identifies beneficiaries and gives benefits of the scheme to the eligible people," he further said.

In a virtual address, the prime minister also underlined the need to fight malnutrition.

"We should never allow malnutrition. The country will be healthy if the child is healthy," PM Modi further said.

The scheme had started as Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA) in 2012 by Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat “to protect poor citizens from the catastrophic costs of medical treatment and illness”, stated the official press release. 

Later in the year 2014, the MA scheme was extended to cover those families as well who had an annual income limit of Rupees 4 lakh, and afterward several other groups were covered under this scheme. The scheme was rebranded as Mukhyamantri Amrutam Vatsalya (MAV) Yojana.

"Prime Minister launched the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana  (AB-PMJAY) in 2018 - the largest health insurance scheme in the world providing coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year, for primary, secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation without any cap on the family size and age", the press release by Prime Minister’s Office stated. 

Since the integration of the two schemes, PMJAY-MA cards were issued to 1.58 crore beneficiaries in Gujarat, the state government said.

"From September 2021 till date, more than 50 lakh cards have been issued under the chief minister's leadership. Newly printed Ayushman PVC cards will be given to these beneficiaries," the release said.

PMJAY-MA Cards: How To Check Eligibility, Download Cards 

- Here are steps to check if your family is eligible for PMJAY-MA beneficiary. If your family appears as a beneficiary on the list, here is how you can download your Ayushman card. 

- To check your eligibility, go to the official website at https://mera.pmjay.gov.in/search/login 

- Provide your mobile phone number to log in to the portal to check eligibility. 

- The beneficiaries do not have to enroll anywhere on the website to claim benefits under the scheme. 

- The beneficiaries can get themselves identified at the nearest empanelled hospital or Community Service Centre (CSC) to receive the benefits. 

- The Ayushman card can be downloaded from the following link https://bis.pmjay.gov.in/BIS/selfprintCard