- Under Naveen Patnaik’s visionary leadership, BSKY became the country’s best healthcare scheme.
- Despite numerous attempts, BJP could only change the name of BSKY.
- Free treatment benefits of ₹10 lakhs for men and ₹15 lakhs for women should be given, demands BJD.
Bhubaneswar, 11/04/2025:Speaking at a press conference held today at Shankha Bhavan, Biju Janata Dal spokesperson Dr. LekhashreeSamantsinghar demanded that before the upcoming Rath Yatra, all 4.5 crore residents of Odisha must be included in the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Dr. Samantsinghar further stated that despite trying for 10 months, the state BJP government has failed to make any effective changes to the BSKY scheme. The state government has now again acknowledged that the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana was the best healthcare scheme in the country. However, the BJP government has only managed to change the scheme’s name and hasn’t been able to add any new features to the scheme.
While BSKY had 3.56 crore beneficiaries, it is unfortunate that Ayushman Bharat currently covers only 3.51 crore beneficiaries. The state government must clarify who all and the basis on which certain beneficiaries were excluded from the scheme.
While the BJP has been loudly promoting Ayushman Bharat, the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) in its report highlighted large-scale financial irregularities, corruption, and mismanagement in healthcare services under the scheme.
In 2013-14, under the name “Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana”, Odisha implemented the country’s first health insurance scheme, creating a model under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Later in August 2018, “Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana” was launched in assurance mode in the state.
The currently launched Ayushman Bharat in the state is merely a replica of BSKY with only a name change. BSKY had helped Odisha achieve a leading position in reducing out-of-pocket health expenses across the country. While Uttar Pradesh reduced such expenses by 13% and Maharashtra by 20%, Odisha was able to reduce it by 37%.
Shri Naveen Patnaik had envisioned including everyone in the BSKY scheme. If the state BJP government, before the upcoming Rath Yatra, ensures inclusion of every Odia in the scheme and provides free healthcare benefits of ₹10 lakhs for men and ₹15 lakhs for women, then the so-called “Double Engine Government” would prove it is genuinely working in the interest of the people of Odisha, said Dr. Samantsinghar.
