While states like Bihar, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal and Uttarakhand have already done the necessary groundwork for the scheme, which was announced by the Centre on October 1, 2007, Karnataka has sent its first response to the Labour and Employment Ministry only on Tuesday.
Moreover, the letter from the state government to the Labour Ministry only mentioned that Karnataka would constitute a state nodal agency and an interdepartmental coordination committee to look after the issue and it would also identify the districts where the scheme would be implemented.
“Disappointed” at this “surprisingly lukewarm” response from Karnataka despite repeated reminders and telephone calls, the concerned authorities have already put up a file to the Union Labour Minister to write to Karnataka Governor on the issue.
Lukewarm response
The scheme, which is aimed at covering all the BPL families in the unorganised sector under health insurance, has also received lukewarm response from Tamil Nadu, Goa and Maharashtra, while Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Orissa are bogged down in bureaucratic procedures.
In spite of the political turmoil due to assembly elections Gujarat has done the necessary groundwork and is likely to implement the scheme from the next financial year. Delhi and Rajasthan have already advertised for the selection of the insurance company and Bihar, Chattisgarh, Kerala, Haryana, MP and West Bengal would follow suit this month.
Andhra Pradesh has not shown interest as they have an ongoing health insurance scheme covering only eight diseases.
The North Eastern states have raised the issue of their inability to contribute 25 per cent and Jammu and Kashmir has clearly indicated that they would not be able to contribute any amount.
While the Centre would contribute 75 per cent of the annual premium, state governments would have to bear the burden of the remaining 25 per cent along with the administrative expenses.
The total sum insured would be Rs 30,000 per family per annum and the beneficiaries would be issued smart cards for the cashless transaction.
All pre-existing diseases would be covered and hospitalisation expenses would be provided taking acre of most of the illnesses with as least exclusions as possible.
