Chief Secy directs Health dept to keep Cabinet note on Ayushman Bharat ready

The Delhi Chief Secretary has directed the Health department to prepare a Cabinet note on the implementation of the Union government’s Ayushman Bharat Yojana in the Capital. The health insurance scheme has been implemented in all states except West Bengal and Delhi.

“The Health Department should prepare Cabinet note to implement Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which provides free treatment of a person up to Rs 5 lakh with an additional Rs 5 lakh cover from the state government,” reads the minutes of the meeting Chief Secretary Dharmendra held with all department heads on Monday.

The outgoing AAP government, which was in power in Delhi for 10 years, did not implement the scheme, maintaining that under its Delhi Arogya Kosh, free treatment is already being provided to the people of Delhi. The BJP, meanwhile, had highlighted that under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, those aged 70 or more — irrespective of their income — will be entitled to a cover of Rs 5 lakh annually to be shared within the family.

Story continues below this ad

“All those schemes/programmes of the Central governments, which have not yet been implemented in Delhi, may be taken up for implementation. The departments may take urgent action on these schemes/programmes for taking requisite approval of the competent authority,” reads the minutes of the meeting.

“The department had prepared documents and the file (on implementation of Ayushman Bharat Yojana) was sent to the previous CM and Health minister for approval but they never replied to it,” a source said, adding that work on preparing the Cabinet note has started and as soon as the government is sworn in, it will be sent to the minister concerned for approval.

Sources also said that the Woman and Child Welfare Department has been directed to start working on implementing BJP’s poll promise of giving Rs 2,500 per month to women from poor families.

The Chief Secretary, meanwhile, also instructed all departments to prepare a 100-day action plan to implement ‘Viksit Delhi’ and submit the same by Thursday.

Story continues below this ad

“The action plan should focus on targets to be completed within 15 days, monthwise and 100 days. The departments should submit the action plan to the General Administration Department (GAD) by Thursday positively. If any project/scheme needs to be placed before the Council of Ministers, the department should start preparing the draft Cabinet note,” reads the minutes of the meeting. The GAD will compile the action plan for 100 days and keep it ready for presentation before the new BJP government, officials said.

Moreover, to tackle waterlogging in the monsoon season, all concerned departments were directed to take steps for desilting and cleaning of drains. The DJB was asked to take measures to prevent overflow of sewage.

Source link