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Kamal Narang

Cover for the unorganised: (From left) The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram; the Minister for Labour, Mr Oscar Fernandes; and the State Minister for Labour and Industry, Delhi, Mr M.R. Singhal; at a press conference in the Capital on Monday. –

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Oct. 1 The Government on Monday officially launched a health insurance scheme for families in the unorganised sector living below the poverty line (BPL).

Addressing a press conference after the launch of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, the Finance Minister, Mr P Chidambaram, said, “We expect to cover all the BPL families in the unorganised sector in the next five years under the health insurance scheme.”

He said that the Centre would contribute 75 per cent of the annual premium rest would come from the State Governments. The administrative costs will also have to be borne by the State Governments. The beneficiary, however, will have to pay Rs 30 per annum as registration and renewal fee. “The beneficiary family, with up to five members, would be issued smart cards and the total sum insured will be Rs 30,000 per family per annum,” the Finance Minister said.

The cashless transaction would cover all the pre-existing diseases and hospitalisation expenses, taking care of most of the illnesses. Transportation cost of Rs 100 per visit would be met with an overall limit of Rs 1,000 per annum, as per the highlights of the scheme.

“As per the estimates once the scheme is operationalised, the outgo in the first year (2008-09 fiscal) would be Rs 751.5 crore and would cover 1.2 crore families,” Mr Chidambaram said.

“A technical cell will be set up by the Central Government to assist the State Governments in the preparation of projects and to monitor and evaluate the implementation,” the Union Minister of State for Labour, Mr Oscar Fernandes, said.

The Finance Minister also said that the Government will adhere to the fiscal deficit target for the financial year, despite a massive increase in funding for various welfare schemes.

More Stories on : General Insurance | Social Security | New Products & Services | Health

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