Bhubaneswar: Union Health Minister and BJP national president J P Nadda will embark on a two-day visit to Odisha from Friday.
Nadda is scheduled to arrive in Bhubaneswar at 1 pm.
The Union Minister will then proceed to Cuttack for the launch of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana along with ‘Ayushman Vayo-Vandana Yojana’ at a special programme at Bali Jatra ground. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida and Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling will attend the event, which will continue till 4.30 pm.
The Ayushman Bharat scheme will be rolled out in convergence with the state-sponsored Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY). Nearly 3.5 crore people out of 4.5 crore in Odisha will benefit from the scheme. It will provide an insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per annum with additional Rs 5 lakh for women members.
State BJP president Manmohan Samal said the previous BJD government did not implement the central scheme because of which people of the state were deprived of its benefits. “After the launch of the Ayushman Yojana in the state, people of Odisha living in the state and outside will be able to access quality healthcare. The beneficiaries will get free cash-less treatment in 29,000 registered private and government hospitals across the country,” he said.
Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, on the other hand, will provide Rs 5 lakh free health cover to all senior citizens of the age 70 years and above irrespective of their socio-economic status.
After the launch of the central schemes, Nadda will inaugurate the new building at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics in Cuttack. “He is also scheduled to visit CIPET and AIIMS Medical College in Bhubaneswar,” Samal said.
He further stated that the national BJP president will formally inaugurate the 3-day training session for state’s MPs and MLAs in Puri on Saturday. “The programme will begin on Friday evening and continue till Sunday during which the MPs and MLAs will be apprised about organisational, administrative, ideology and goals of the party,” he added.
Three union ministers from Odisha – Jual Oram, Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw – are also scheduled to attend the programme.