Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who had announced the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana two weeks ago on Wednesday modified it on the request of a tribal woman of Malkangiri district by enhancing the healthcare assistance for women up to Rs.7 lakh.

On Wednesday while discussing with villagers under Ama Gaon Ama Bikas Yojana, a lady named Mamata Padiamy from Kalimela block of Malkangiri district spoke about the health concerns of women and requested the CM to enhance the healthcare assistance amount for women under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.

Appreciating the views of the lady, the Chief Minister made an announcement, right at the programme itself, to enhance the assistance amount for women up to Rs.7 lakh under the scheme.

The CM told the media that he had revised the amount for women after interacting with the woman from Malkangiri.

It may be mentioned here that the Chief Minister had earlier on June 12 announced Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana that assures healthcare facilities of Rs.S lakh for about 70 lakh families in the State.

With this announcement, Odisha has become the first State in the country to have a health assurance scheme of Rs.S lakh and for women, enhanced up to Rs7 lakh.

The Chief Minister said that this will be immensely beneficial to the millions of mothers and sisters of the State. Political circles were quick to note that it is for the first time in 19 years of rule that the CM has claimed to have responded directly to such a request. It is reminiscent of Biju Patnaik, who used to do so and say publicly about such interactions – like when he enhanced the wages of kendu leaf pluckers.

It may be noted here that Odisha government has been asserting that its BSKY health assurance scheme which is to be implemented from 15 August is much better than the Ayushman Bharat scheme of the central government.

Odisha had rejected the Ayushman Bharat scheme stating that over eight lakh families would be deprived of it since the centre had enlisted 62 lakh beneficiaries in the state. Dharmendra Pradhan had castigated the CM for having rejected the central scheme and said he should not deprive the people of the state from benefits.

The BJD had hit back at Pradhan by referring to the Indian Medical Association’s objections to the Ayushman Bharat scheme and how it could result in compromising quality of medical treatment as well as breed corrupt practices. The BJD has demanded an apology from Pradhan in this regard