NEW DELHI: Eyeing the upcoming assembly polls, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal promised to provide free treatment to all Delhiites aged above 60 years at both state-run and private health facilities if re-elected in polls due in Feb next year.
Announcing the proposed ‘Sanjeevani’ scheme, Kejriwal said AAP volunteers would start visiting every household within two-three weeks to complete the “registration” and provide every eligible person with a card. “Keep the card issued by AAP volunteers safe. The scheme will be approved as soon as AAP forms the govt after the elections,” Kejriwal said.
Sources said the scheme was announced as a counter to the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana, which was expanded in Sept this year to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above.
Valid voter I-card of Delhi sole criterion: Kejriwal
The AB PM-JAY provides free health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh, regardless of the beneficiary’s income. Delhi and West Bengal are the only two states in the country that have not implemented the AB PM-JAY scheme so far.
After the Delhi HC issued a notice to the Delhi govt regarding implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme last month, CM Atishi said that her govt was ready to implement it, but there were contradictions between the facilities offered by the GNCTD and those under Ayushman Bharat. She added that the health department was directed to devise a mechanism to incorporate the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme without withdrawing the benefits of the Delhi govt’s free healthcare facilities for the people.
Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said the biggest issue that troubles every elderly person as they age is the rising cost of treatment. He added that there would be no other criteria to be eligible for the Sanjeevani scheme except a valid voter I-card of Delhi. “Whether you wish to get treated in a govt hospital or a private hospital, the entire cost of your treatment will be covered by the Delhi govt,” Kejriwal announced. “There will be no restrictions based on income. Everyone’s treatment, whether rich or poor, will be provided free of cost. There will be no upper limit on the expenses,” he said.
AAP, in a statement, said that over 25 lakh senior citizens were likely to benefit from the scheme, which will not have any income or socio-economic restrictions, and health cards would be issued without any discrimination. When asked, govt sources said no calculations of the estimated expenditure on the scheme were done so far. “A proper policy will be made, and the modalities will be worked out in due course of time,” said a source.
Highlighting the success of the free pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens, under which nearly one lakh senior citizens so far undertook pilgrimages to various parts of the country, Kejriwal said it was his “responsibility” to ensure the good health of every elder in Delhi. “Your son will take full responsibility for keeping you healthy in your old age. In return, I only ask for your blessings,” Kejriwal said.
The announcement made by the former Delhi CM was applauded by his party colleagues on X. CM Atishi said, “A son should be like Arvind Kejriwal.” “First, he became a Shravan Kumar for Delhi by arranging pilgrimages for over 1 lakh elders, and now he has introduced the Sanjeevani scheme for their well-being… Registration for this scheme will begin shortly, and its implementation will commence after the elections,” Atishi posted on X.
Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and former deputy CM Manish Sisodia also posted similar messages.