Odisha Govt Hikes BSKY Assistance For Women To Rs 10 Lakh

Bhubaneswar: In a major development, the Odisha Government has increased the healthcare assistance for women under the state's own health scheme - Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. An announcement in this regard was made by Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal during the first Session of the 16th Odisha Assembly today.

"Our women will now get Rs 10 lakh for their treatment instead of Rs 7 lakh under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana," informed Professor Ganeshi Lal.

It is pertinent to mention here that CM Naveen Patnaik, prior to the 2019 general elections, had promised to increase BSKY assistance amount by Rs 3 lakh for women. “We will hike the assistance amount under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana to Rs 10 lakh from Rs 7 lakh for women, if the party comes to power in the State,” Patnaik had said.

BSKY was launched in 2018 to provide near universal health coverage, especially to the economically vulnerable families. As per government reports, as many as 3.5 crore people received treatment under the scheme. BSKY also promises free services in government hospitals up to district-level and Drop Back Assistance for pregnant women and infants.