Reliance to implement Karunya scheme

Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the CPM and the Congress are cornering the BJP-led government at the Centre for its Rafale deal for allegedly helping the Anil Ambani-led Reliance group, the CPM-ruled state government in Kerala has entrusted the Reliance General Insurance of Anil Ambani with the implementation of Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme in the state benefiting 41 lakh families.
The Reliance General Insurance was the lowest bidder (in terms of premium) in the tender called by the state government to roll out the health insurance scheme, which will be replacing the RSBY scheme.

“Along with Reliance, New India Assurance, National Insurance and United India Assurance companies had participated in the tender invited for launching the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padathi (KASP). The tender evaluation committee headed by additional chief secretary (health) selected the lowest bidder for rolling out the insurance scheme,” said health minister K K Shailaja.

The Reliance General Insurance company has offered an annual premium of Rs 1,671 for the health coverage up to Rs 5 lakh.

Ironically, this has happened when the CPM-led government in Kerala had come out against the Centre for awarding the Trivandrum International Airport on lease for 50 years to Adani Group who was the highest bidder in the tender.

When the Centre came out with the Ayushaman Bharat scheme, the state was reluctant to join the scheme since the Centre was ready to include only the 21 lakh families. But the state decided to include all the beneficiaries under the RSBY and CHIS scheme under the new scheme while incorporating the Ayushman Bharat.

“All the present insurance schemes, including the Karunya Benevolent Scheme, will now come under the KASP. No beneficiaries under these schemes will be left out. It will be benefiting 40.96 lakh families in the state,” the health minister said.

She said that the Reliance General Insurance has been selected as the insurance provider for the year 2019-20. The insurance will be rolled out from April 1.

Already an expert committee headed by Dr D Narayana, director, Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation, have fixed the treatment packages for 1,824 medical treatments which have been approved by the state government.