Meira launches Health Insurance Scheme for disabled

New Delhi, Mar 26 (UNI) Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar today launched 'Nirmaya', a Health Insurance Scheme for the welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities here.

Speaking on the occasion, she said a large number of persons would benefit from the step in terms of getting quality medical services in their respective areas.

''It is a cashless scheme, under which persons need not pay even a penny for the services offered to them if they are admitted in hospital for an expenditure upto Rs 1 lakh,'' she said.

Even transport arrangement has been made for this purpose to reach the hospitals. The scheme also covers OPD services. The premium of the insurance scheme is paid by the National Trust for the Below Poverty Line persons. The above poverty line persons can also avail this facility by paying the suitable premium, she added.

Ms Kumar announced that the Ministry was launching this scheme in 10 districts on pilot basis; Central Delhi-Delhi, Kaimur-Bihar, Chandigarh-Haryana, Jabalpur-Madhya Pradesh, Agartala-Tripura, Raeareily-UP, Erode-Tamil Nadu, Ernakulam-Kerala, Ahmedabad-Gujarat and Bhageshwar in Uttarakhand.

The Minister distributed photo ID cards to the first 20 specially-abled people. A film on Gyan Prabha Awardees was also shown on the occasion.

Ms Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan, the Minister of State for Social Justice&Empowerment, Poonam Natarajan, Chairperson of National Trust and Ms Veena Chhotray, the Secretary of SJ&E, were also present at the function.

UNI NAZ PK KN2039