By IANS,
Mumbai : Mumbai North Lok Sabha member Sanjay Nirupam celebrated his 46th birthday Sunday by giving free health insurance cover to five lakh poor people in the constituency.
According to Mumbai North Congress president Ashok Sutrale, the idea of such a unique scheme occurred to Nirupam in view of the growing cost of medical treatment, both in the private and public sectors, especially for delivery-related problems among women.
“After consultation with party leaders at the local, state and national levels, he decided to come up with something unique for the poor and needy who could not afford prohibitive medical expenses,” Sutrale told IANS.
The scheme has been launched in collaboration with Oriental Insurance Co Ltd.
As per the plans, 500,000 people, comprising one lakh families, would be covered under a Rs.30,000 per annum mediclaim policy.
“Through charitable organisations and trusts, the MP will bear the annual premium burden of around Rs.4-5 crore for the one lakh policies,” Sutrale said.
Nirupam distributed the policies to thousands at a mega birthday bash held in Borivli suburb in his constituency.