Balangir: Every life is precious to me. I want everyone to be healthy, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during the distribution of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) smart health card in Balangir district on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister visited Titilagarh where he handed over the BSKY cards to beneficiaries. Speaking on the occasion, Naveen greeted people in the traditional style by extending Nuakhai wishes. “Nuakhai Juhar. The BSKY card is being implemented in a new form and 3.5 crore people of 96 lakh families will benefit from it. The beneficiaries can avail treatment by showing this card in 200 hospitals cross the country. Odisha is the first state in the country to provide this service.”
Later, he inaugurated a pipe water for Titilagarh. It may be mentioned here that the smart health card was launched in Malkangiri on August 20 and Sundargarh on September 14.
On Independence Day, Naveen had announced to provide Smart Health Cards to 3.5 crore people in the state under BSKY. Each family can avail treatment cost up to Rs 5 lakh per annum. Women members can avail this benefit up to Rs 10 lakh every year.
Ministers Naba Das, Tukuni Sahu and 5T Secretary Karthikeyan Pandian accompanied the Chief Minister.
Health Minister Naba Das said “the BJD government has set examples for others and never followed others. The farmers continue to reap benefits from KALIA yojana even though the opposition had claimed that it was a poll stunt and would stop after the 2019 elections.”
About COVID situation Das said, “the state is fully prepared to deal with the third wave. We have instructed all municipal commissioners and other officials to arrange medical and hospital beds.”
Beneficiaries of National and State Food Security Schemes, Annapurna and Antodaya beneficiaries will get this card. The beneficiaries can avail health services in more than 200 hospital chains of the country including Odisha.
