Congress ''doubtful'' about Zorama's 'MR Bill'

Aizawl, Mar 4 (UNI) The Congress today made it clear that it was doubtful of the much-hyped ''medical reimbursement scheme for aam- Admi'' by Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga.

''In the wake of the announcement of a renewed NLUP (New Land Use Policy) by the Congress, Mr Zoramthanga has come up with the so-called medical reimbursement scheme for all in a desperate attempt to prevent the disappointed people from quitting his party (MNF),'' Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee's spokesperson Ronald Sapa Tlau told reporters here today.

''If the scheme ever becomes a reality, the Congress will be one of the happiest parties. However, it appears that the chief minister has announced the scheme without giving a second thought on its complications, apart from the fact that the required amount for the scheme would be extracted from the proposed loan by the Asian Development Bank, which is basically meant for development,'' Tlau said.

''It seems that the Chief Minister has over-acted (by announcing the scheme),'' he added.

According to an official source, the 'MR scheme', to be called Mizoram Health Care Scheme, will cover all the households where there is not a single government employee.

On behalf of the State government, Health Commissioner/Secretary J C Ramthanga had floated an advertisement inviting quotations from insurance companies having Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) registration and a gross direct premium income of more than Rs 100 crore.

The scheme is meant to provide health care cover of Rs 1 lakh floater for one family per year and will benefit around 1.50 lakh families other than government employees.

UNI ZS PL GT KN1725