Insurance Schemes For Farmers, Small Traders, Construction Workers Rolled Out In Punjab

Chandigarh April 9, 2016: Giving top most priority and standing tall on to its commitments, the Punjab government has chalked out ambitious plans towards raising the status of the economically weaker and other sections of the society and has become one of the few states to have effectively implemented pro-people schemes in the state.
Giving details of the Insurance covers extended to various economically weaker sections and holders of Blue cards in the state, a spokesman of the government said that in order to give big relief to the BPL families in the state, a comprehensive insurance scheme under the name of "Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojana" has been introduced for providing health insurance cover of Rs. 50000/- per annum per family plus Rs. 5 lacs cover for accidental death and complete disability for HoF of the 28.90 lakh blue card holders families, 11 lac marginal J Form holder farming families , 2.33 lakh small traders and 2.32 lakh construction workers. State has earmarked Rs. 116 cr. for this purpose. Additional financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh as against damages due to fire in the business premises would also be given by the government.
To cater to the needs of the Punjab government employees and pensioners, a cashless health insurance scheme for medical treatment has already been initiated from January 2016 and an amount of Rs. 56 cr. has been earmarked for this purpose. Apart from this, around Rs. 36 cr. has been provided for implementing public sensitive emergency response medical services.
Such scheme would give a big relief to the people of unprivileged sections by providing them the quality health care services, free of cost. Under the scheme the beneficiaries would be issued the smart cards which would enable them to avail the benefit of cashless health care facilities up to Rs 50000 per annum in 214 government and 216 empanelled private hospitals in the state.
The spokesman further reiterated that the Punjab government was fully committed to the welfare of the farming community instrumental in contributing about 30-35% of food grains procured for the Central Pool. He said that under the insurance schemes especially announced for the farmers’ pre-active cashless Farmers have been identified in the first phase of project to be covered under Health Insurance Cards Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojna. Adding further, he said that farmers and their families will be provided health insurance cover of Rs. 50,000 for treatment and compensation of Rs 5-lakh in case of the death of the head of the family or when two parts of his body get disabled. The premium worth Rs. 220/-per family per annum would be paid by the market committee of Mandi board.
The spokesman further said that total 303074 cards would be distributed to the farmers on April 11, all over the state simultaneously. Giving further district wise details, he said in Amritsar 5590, Barnala 13531, Bhatinda 28611, Faridkot 8756, Sri Fatehgarh Sabib 10425, Fazilka 14456, Ferozepur 15543, Gurdaspur 12982, Hoshiarpur 9785, Jalandhar 25149, Kapurthala 8286,, Ludhiana26196, Mansa 16546,Moga 24180, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali ) 3901, Sri Mukatsar Sahib 8343, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar 15391, Pathankot 1383, Patiala 21232, Ropar 4325, Sangrur 18671, TarnRaran 9792 pre-active cashless Farmers Health Insurance Cards would be distributed under Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Bima Yojna.
Referring to the exclusive benefits of imparting education extended to the registered construction workers, he said that under newly initiated Scholarship scheme for the children of the workers an amount of Rs. 38 crore has been spent till date. Further as a benign gesture of the Punjab government to the marriageable daughters of these workers, Rs. 31,000/- as shagun was being given to the girls at the time of their marriages and an amount of Rs. 11 crore has been spent under this scheme so far.
In case of any mishap or any physical disability caused or death ex-gratia amount is being given to the family and under this till date Rs. 10.30 crore has been spent. The state government gives an amount of Rs. 20,000 for the last rites of the deceased and an amount of Rs. 34 lakh has been spent on this. The spokesman further said that another new scheme has been launched by the state government for the expectant mothers belonging to the construction workers under which an amount of Rs. 21000/- is being given at the time of birth of the child as a shagun and under this scheme Rs.5.50 lakh has so far been spent.
To impart right kind of education to the children of the construction workers, four Skill Development Centres one each at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mohali and Jalandhar were already under construction. Total cost of Rs. 30.27 lakh would be incurred on these centres, he said. To ensure a steady annual financial assistance between Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 25,000 as pension is also being given to the registered construction worker after the age of 60.