Puri: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday launched distribution of smart health cards to the beneficiaries covered under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) in Puri district. Secretary to CM V K Pandian graced the occasion.
It is to be noted that the Chief Minister had announced the distribution of smart health cards to the BSKY beneficiaries on the occasion of Independence Day this year. He has already launched the distribution of smart health cards in Malkangiri, Sundergarh, Bolangir and Gajapati in four phases.
Naveen visited Bramhagiri of Puri this morning to join the smart cart launching event. The smart health card will benefit about 1.64 lakh people in the Puri district.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he said that the people of Puri district have always supported the development programs and strengthened the government. Patnaik thanked the people of Puri and said that the development programme would be carried out with the love and respect of the people of the district.
Speaking about various flagship programmes of his government, the chief minister said that the development of Puri, the Jagannath temple is the sacred responsibility of the government and ‘Drink from Tap’ programme was launched in Puri city.
Puri is the first city in the country to have such a facility and the people of Puri are getting the same benefits as the people of cities like London and New York, he said.
Speaking about the smart health care programme, the CM said it will benefit about 3.5 crore people of 96 lakh families in the State and it will help to ease treatment related financial burden on people.
The biggest concern is the money needed for treatment. For this, some sell land, some sell gold and some others borrow. Some even step in by sending their children to schools, he said.
The biggest concern is the money needed for treatment. For this, some sell land, some sell gold and some others borrow. Some even step in by sending their children to schools, Patnaik further said.
Now, the beneficiaries can avail health services by using this card in more than 200 hospital chains of the country including Odisha, he added.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also laid foundation stones of several developmental projects worth Rs 1,000 crore.
Addressing this event, BJP MLA Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra urged the Chief Minister to rise above politics and implement the Central scheme Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Odisha.
Strongly reacting to this, BJD MP from Puri, Pinaki Mishra said Odisha is the only state where dignity and respect is being given to Opposition party MLAs. In other states, the opposition MLAs are beaten up.
As per Ayushman Bharat scheme concern, the BJD leader said, “My brother Lalitendu, you will see all other states and Union government will replicate the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana in coming years.”
Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, Food Supply and Cooperation Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain, School and Mass Education Minister Samir Das, Minister Tushar Kanti Behera, Jagatsinghpur MP Rajashree Mallick and Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board Sanjay Das Burma were also present on the occasion.
