Govt in action mode on Day 1
The Delhi Cabinet, headed by newly elected Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, approved the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme with Rs 5 lakh top up on Thursday.
CM Gupta, in her first briefing after chairing the first Cabinet meeting, said they discussed and passed two agendas - implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme with Rs 5 lakh top up in Delhi and tabling of 14 CAG reports in the first seating of the Assembly.
To provide medical care to Delhiites, the BJP in its manifesto had promised to implement the Central Government’s Ayushman Bharat Scheme to provide free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh, with the state government providing an additional Rs 5 lakh cover for all low-income households.
As per the BJP’s manifesto, senior citizens who have attained the age of 70 will receive free OPD and diagnostic services as well as free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh.
Similarly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his poll rallies had vowed to take tough action against corruption once the BJP-led government is formed in Delhi.
Notably, two CAG reports were last month widely reported by the media which put the AAP on the back foot before the Delhi Assembly elections. Both CAG reports were critical of the AAP government of its expenses on CM house renovation project and rendering loss of Rs 2,000 crore to the government exchequer for implementing a new excise policy in 2021-22.
Responding to a question on the Ayushman scheme, CM Gupta said: “We will give you details on this. We will have to sign a MoU with the Central Government. Today, we have cleared the formalities from our side. The AAP government had even put some litigation in the court against this scheme for which we have started proceedings to take it back. Once those proceedings are over, we will bring this scheme into public domain”.
Speaking on the Mahila Samman Yojna, under which the BJP had promised a monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 to every woman, the CM said they had discussion over this scheme as well during the Cabinet meeting.
“We had a discussion. Lots of things need to be finalised. We need to discuss more on that scheme and will continue it in the next meeting,” the CM said.
