Ruling-BJD rubbishes Centre’s claim of hijacking schemes

Bhubaneswar: A day after the State government refused to implement the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission, ruling-BJD rubbished the BJP’s allegation of hijacking the Central schemes.

While the Ayushman is an insurance scheme, the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana is an assurance and money will be directly given to beneficiaries, the ruling-BJD stated.

In a presser, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said, “While the Center is announcing the health scheme now, the BJD had announced such schemes in its 2014 poll manifesto.”

“On basis of the Socio Economic and Caste Census, the Centre has decided 61 lakh beneficiaries under the Ayushman scheme. But the State is planning to give benefits to 70 lakh beneficiaries under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. How come both the schemes are same?” Deb further questioned.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan targeted the Chief Minister over deteriorating health services in the State.

“The State government should not oppose the scheme only for the sake of it with political motive. I want to request the CM to refrain from doing harm to Odia people especially poor sections of the society,” said Pradhan.