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Bhubaneswar: Accepting suggestions from a woman of Kalimela block of Malkangiri district, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday enhanced the health cover assistance for women to Rs 7 lakh from Rs 5 lakh under the ‘Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana’.
The woman from Malkangiri, Mamata Padiami had requested to enhance the health assistance under the ‘Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana’ for women. However, the opposition parties on the other hand claimed that such move is not aimed at improving the health sector rather BJD government has come up with such announcement to secure its own women vote bank keeping in view upcoming 2019 elections.
“I have taken note of the suggestion. With this decision women of the State will be benefited in a big way,” said Patnaik while announcing the decision at the State Secretariat after holding discussions about the progress of the ‘Ama Gaon Ama Bikash Yojana’ in eight districts today.
Odisha government had earlier announced the scheme on June 12 which would be implemented from August 15.
Meanwhile, Opposition lambasted the State government over the increase in health assistance and asked whether budgetary provision was made or not for the same.
“Several schemes are being announced by government but whether any budgetary provision has been made? On one hand, the government announced an increase of money for health coverage under the scheme but on the other women are still delivering in bus or autorickshaws in different parts of the State,” said Niranjan Patnaik, OPCC chief.
Echoing similar views, BJP leader Lekhashree Samantsinghar said, “Without budgetary provision why Odisha CM increased the amount for the scheme? This move is only to cheat people of the State. The way schemes are being announced foundation stones laid from Secretariat, it seems that the CM before going to bed must be thinking on how to cheat people next day.”
