Health insurance of Rs 30,000 for unorganised workers

New Delhi, Feb 29 (UNI) In an attempt to extend coverage to the large unorganised workforce, workers falling in the below poverty line category will get health cover of Rs 30,000 under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana.

Most of the states have agreed to join the yojana to be launched in Delhi and in the states of Haryana and Rajasthan on April 1 next, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said while announcing major interventions for the vulnerable sections of society in the General Budget 2008-09.

The Government will allocate Rs 205 crore as the Centre's share of the premia in 2008-09.

In the other major initiative for the elderly, the Finance Minister announced launch of a national programme for the elderly with a plan outlay of Rs 400 crore from 2008-09.

Besides, two National Institutes of Ageing, eight regional centres and a department for geriatric medical care in one medical college/tertiary level hospital in each state will also be set up during the Eleventh Plan period.

UNI SD MSJ DS1506