Deputy Speaker for Bill on health to help poor

 If Right to Education Act has been implemented to bring change in the education sector, a private member Bill on Right to Health (RTH) has been placed before the Assembly with an  aim to provide health service to the people of Karnataka, said Assembly Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat.

He said the proposed Bill intends to cover both the BPL and APL card holders in the State by offering them health insurance up to Rs two lakh. “I had placed the Bill before the Assembly on the last day of the session, but as the session was adjourned, the discussion on the Bill could not be carried out. I would again place the Bill in the house in the next session and try to get approval for it,” stated Bhat.

He was delivering presidential address at the 97th birth anniversary celebrations of former chief minister late D Devaraj Urs, organised by Dakshina Kannada district administration, Zilla Panchayat and Backward Classes Welfare Department at Zilla Panchayat hall on Monday.

Speaking about the Bill, he said the Bill if implemented as Act would cover the population including the middle class who do not pay the Income Tax. An individual can avail the health insurance between Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh for undergoing surgeries.
“I have held two rounds of discussion with the Chief Minister and will hold the third round of meeting with in two days. If implemented, Karnataka will be the first state in the country to ensure right to health to the citizens,” said the Deputy Speaker.

MLA U T Khader urged the government to ensure that none of the banks harass people belonging to backward classes while sanctioning loans. The government should also hike the grant given for the construction of community halls for backward classes. The government which sanctions up to Rs 20 lakh to construct community halls for minority communities, on the other hand grants only Rs five lakh for backward classes.

The Backward Class Welfare Department should also take steps to improve the health of the people from backward classes, he said.The talented students, top scorers of SSLC and PUC and three cooks who have served in the hostels run by the department of backward classes and minority were felicitated on the occasion. ZP President Shailaja Bhat inaugurated the programme.

In Udupi

The birth anniversary of Urs was observed in Udupi too. Speaking after inaugurating the programme, Muzrai Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary said the State government has implemented various programmes for the development of backward communities, on the lines of the programmes that were implemented by Devaraj Urs.

“Financial aid is provided to the students belonging to backward communities under Arivu scheme. Rs 264 lakh has been reserved for the development of backward communities in Udupi district for the year 2012-13. Morarji Desai Residential schools will be opened at Karkala and Baindoor,” he said.MLA Raghupathi Bhat and others were present.