Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik distributed the smart health card of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) and dedicated various development projects in Gajapati district on Monday.
During an event on the occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated the program by awarding the smart health card to some beneficiaries of the district. Around 1.35 lakh families of Gajapati i.e., 90 percent of the district’s population can avail the benefits of the smart health card.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that everyone knows about Biju Babu’s relationship with Gajapati district, therefore the district has a special significance for him. He said he was happy to launch the smart health card in Gajapati.
Highlighting the uniqueness of Gajapati district, the Chief Minister said that Gajapati is a land of art and prosperity. Although a small district, Gajapati’s contribution to modern Odisha is significant. On the occasion, the Chief Minister recalled Gajapati Maharaja Krushna Chandra Dev, one of the forerunners of the formation of a separate province of Odisha, and said that the nation would never forget his contribution. He was a symbol of development and self-esteem. The Chief Minister also paid homage to poet Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka and eminent historian Dr. Satyanarayana Rajguru.
In addition to distributing the Health Cards, Patnaik also inaugurated various projects such as mega piped water, roads, education, health infrastructure. The Chief Minister also said that steps were being taken to develop the Mahendragiri shrine.
It is worthwhile to mention that the smart health card had been launched in Malkangiri on August 20, Sundergarh on September 14, and Bolangir on September 22.
Earlier on the occasion of 75th Independence Day, the Chief Minister had announced to provide Smart Health Cards to 3.5 crore people in the State under BSKY.
The Smart Health Card will be provided to 3.5 crore people of 96 lakh families. Each family can avail treatment cost up to Rs 5 lakh per annum. Women members can avail this benefit up to Rs 10 lakh every year.
Odisha is the first state in the country to have provided such facilities in the health sector. This card will be given to all the beneficiaries phase-wise.
Beneficiaries of National and State Food Security Schemes, Annapurna, and Antodaya beneficiaries will get this card. The beneficiaries can avail health services in more than 200 hospital chains of the country including Odisha.
