Arogyashree extended to other sections

The benefits of the Vajpayee Arogyashree scheme, which was initially restricted to below poverty line (BPL) families, would be extended to slum dwellers, autorickshaw drivers, widows and disabled persons, said Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy on Monday.

Addressing reporters, the Mayor said the scheme would be relaunched by including more beneficiaries on Tuesday, to mark the 88th birthday of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The Palike would bring 6.5 lakh slum dwellers, three lakh autorickshaw drivers and 4.9 lakh BPL card holders under the scheme, Murthy said. As of now, 20,000 BPL card holders had been enrolled under the scheme and provided biometric cards, he said. The Mayor said, under this scheme, a family can avail medical benefits costing up to Rs two lakh a year for 402 various ailments, including heart problems and cancer, as also neurological, urological and paediatric diseases. Accident and burns victims will also be included.

The Mayor said the Palike entered into an agreement with Suvarna Suraksha Trust to provide benefits under the Vajpayee Arogyashree Scheme. The civic agency has also tied up with 54 private hospitals under the scheme.

Murthy said the National Urban Health Mission is providing Rs 250 crore to upgrade health facilities in Karnataka, of which a large chunk will be spent in Bangalore. Under this scheme, the government will open health units in each ward and hospitals in each Assembly constituency of the City. There will be state-of-the-art hospitals at the BBMP zonal level.