Biju plan different from central scheme, says BJD

BHUBANESWAR:Refuting BJP’s allegations that Odisha Government is hijacking schemes of the Central Government, the BJD on Sunday maintained that the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) announced by the State Government is different from Ayushman scheme of the Centre.

BKY has been launched as per the promise made by BJD in its 2014 election manifesto to provide an universal health scheme. This plan will be implemented from August 15, 2018, said Rajya Sabha Member and BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb in a media conference here.

On Ambedkar’s anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced about the Ayushman scheme which was also reflected in the Union Budget. It had been planned that the Central scheme would benefit two crore people from Odisha. However, the Centre is yet to make it clear when the scheme will be implemented, Deb said and added

Ayushman is an insurance-based scheme with the Centre contributing 60 per cent and the State Government 40 per cent of the funds. BSKY announced by the State Government is a health assurance scheme in which all families will benefitted. If cost to be incurred for selection of beneficiaries and survey will be added, the State Government’s contribution in the Ayushman scheme will be around 50 per cent, he said.

The BJD leader said many people of the State will not get any benefit from Ayushman scheme which will be implemented on the basis of 2011 socio-economic caste census (SECC). He questioned the assessment made by the Centre that in first phase, 48 lakh families will benefit from the scheme and later, it will be extended to cover 61 lakh families of the State. But BSKY will directly benefit 70 lakh families of Odisha, Deb said. Selection of beneficiaries of Ayushman scheme in urban areas basing on profession will deprive 90 per cent of people of the benefits of the scheme, he claimed.

Deb said the Chief Secretary had written to Centre that Ayushman scheme will cover only 61 lakh families of the State while nine lakhs families will be deprived of its benefits and hence, there is a need to include them in the scheme. Selection of beneficiaries on the basis of Aadhar number will create problems as many people do not have Aadhar cards, he said.

However, the Centre’s decision to implement Ayushman scheme months before the General Elections has raised questions about such an announcement, Deb said. BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra was also present.