AAP Govt Agrees to Implement Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Delhi as Coronavirus Cases Rise to 415

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Monday said it will implement the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in the national capital from fiscal 2020-21, changing its stance on the enforcement of the scheme in the national capital, as the number of positive cases of coronavirus infection rose to 415 in the country. A total of seven deaths have also been reported across the nation due to COVID-19.

In wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, Finance Minister Manish Sisodia announced in the Delhi Assembly that the AAP government will also implement the centrally sponsored health insurance scheme in financial year 2020-21. He announced Rs 3 crore for the current fiscal year and Rs 50 crore for next financial year to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

"The Delhi government will implement the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in Delhi in 2020-21 to provide health insurance cover up to Rs 5 lakh per family every year," said Sisodia.

The scheme has been a bone of contention between the ruling AAP and the BJP in the national capital.

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari has been constantly attacking the AAP dispensation for not implementing the scheme in the national capital and depriving people of its benefits.

Last year, Health Minister Satyendar Jain had said the government will not implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the national capital as the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation seeks to provide equitable treatment to all residents here.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme plans to cover over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families as per the socio-economic caste census (SECC). It provides a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year which includes 1,400 pre-defined packages spread over 23 specialities.

The PM-JAY has been rolled out for the bottom 40 per cent of the poor and vulnerable population in the country. In absolute numbers, it is close to 10.74 crore (100.74 million) households.

The inclusion of households is based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas, respectively.