MCC okays health cover for poor

The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) on Tuesday approved health insurance cover for poor, backward classes and minorities, a first of its kind programme  in the State.

The adjourned meeting of the MCC, presided by Deputy Mayor Pushpalatha Jagannath, approved the same. The corporation has earmarked ` eight crore in the 2010-11 budget for various welfare schemes of the backward classes and minorities, of which ` 45 lakh has been set aside for the health insurance covering them.

The MCC finalised the scheme after discussing the matter with the representatives of various insurance companies.

For a five-member family, a premium of ` 180 will be collected for the maximum limit of ` 30,000. Plans are afoot to select at least 25,000 families in the current fiscal.

Misuse of BPL cards

When MCC commissioner, K S Rayker said this scheme was applicable only for BPL card holders, M V Ramaprasad, a Corporator from BJP said the BPL cards have been possessed by rich families. They would avail food items from PDS shops and sell the same to poor. Under these circumstances it was not correct to keep the BPL card as yardstick.

Instead it would be better if they keep income certificate as the base for utilising the scheme. Rayker clarified that BPL cards are not the yardstick. Most of the patients who come to K R Hospital are poor, as the  rich go to private hospitals. After observing all these, the MCC took that decision. If situation comes, even the income certificates would also be considered. The beneficiaries could avail treatment in any hospital of their choice.

The commissioner said in private hospitals, BPL card or income certificate would be considered. The family of seven persons should pay a premium of ` 240. There was delay in implementing this scheme because of pending discussion with various insurance companies. There is no age limit to avail this scheme. Treatment up to ` 30,000 could be obtained in hospitals, he added.