Suryakant Jena

Bhubaneswar: Letters from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik containing details of the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana will reach the doorsteps of at least 70 lakh families covering nearly 3.5 crore people across the state within seven days from the roll out date.

The State Health Department which has upped its sleeves for this mass outreach programme undertaken by the state government is all set with its blueprint for disctribution of the letters.

As per sources, the district collectors have already been sent the beneficiary lists. As per the guidelines, the distribution of the letters will begin after the Chief Minister inaugurates the new scheme on August 15 and end within 7 days.

The Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Pramod Meherda, has asked all district collectors to ensure that the letter should reach all beneficiaries.

To ensure successful distribution of the letters , committees have been set up at block and district level, said reports.

As per the scheme, each eligible family will be paid a health cover of Rs 5 lakh while women will be entitled for Rs 7 lakh.

Of the total health cover, 1 lakh would be health insurance while the remaining four lakh would be borne by the state government during medical exigencies, informed Chief Secretary AP Padhi .

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Meanwhile, the Opposition parties have come down heavily on the ruling BJD while questioning the motive behind the new scheme by the government when elections are round the corner.

BJP Spokesperson Golak Mohapatra said that never in the history of Odisha have people seen such an attempt by the government to woo voters.

"The new programme is only politics being played by the BJD  employing government machinery. If the state government wants to do something it is welcome, but what is the need of sending letters,” he questioned.

Former OPCC chief and senior Congress leader Jaydev Jena also said the BJD is using the entire goverenment machinery to woo voters in favour of the party ahead of the elections in a pre-planned manner.

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Meanwhile, Health Minister Pratap Jena said, "It is a habit of the Opposition to criticise the government schemes, but we are unconcerned about their comments because we are committed to take benefits of the health scheme reach every nook and cranny of the state.”

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