By IANS
New Delhi : The cabinet Thursday decided to provide social security to poor workers of the unorganised sector through health insurance scheme.
The cabinet had last week approved the Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana for the landless poor in the rural areas. The new scheme too will launched simultaneously with the Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana on Oct 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.
“Through this scheme, below poverty line (BPL) workers will be provided a health insurance cover. The scheme will be launched in a phased manner for BPL workers in the unorganised sector and their families.
“Only the unorganised sector workers in the BPL category and their family members within the family unit of five members will be able to avail of this scheme in the first phase,” said Dasmunsi.
The implementing agencies will be responsible for verifying the eligibility of the concerned worker for this health insurance, he said.
The insured worker and his family members will be provided a smart card to establish identity if and when they need medical treatment and avail of the insurance facility.
“A bill to protect the interests of the unorganised sector workers is being introduced in this session of parliament,” said the minister, adding both these insurance schemes will be incorporated in the proposed bill.
However, after introduction, this bill is to be sent to the Standing Committee of the concerned ministry and it may be passed at the earliest only in the winter session of parliament, he conceded.