Bhubaneswar: Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) commissioner-cum-secretary Shalini Pandit Monday directed all district Collectors to hold campaigns to create awareness about the BSKY Nabin Card and prompt the public to register under the scheme. In a letter to Collectors and District Magistrates, Pandit said that the scope of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojna (BSKY) has been expanded to make room for all those who were left out of the scheme earlier. Stating that the registration portal will be open from January 6, she said, “I am to say that the Chief Minister has announced the expansion of BSKY through the BSKY Nabin Card which will cover all left-out rural families (except for regular government employees, government pensioners and income tax payers).
The eligible families can apply for BSKY Nabin Card online. The registration portal at www.bskynabin.odisha.gov.in will open from January 6, 2024 and will close on January 16, 2024.” The Health secretary asked the district authorities to reach out to the general public and intended beneficiaries to inform them about the benefits and the registration process. An information-education-communication (IEC) document prepared by the government, in both Odia and English, was provided to the Collectors for this purpose with instruction to share it on social media platforms. “Public awareness on the same may be undertaken through field functionaries of different departments like Mission Shakti, PR&DW, WCD, S&ME and the H&FW at district and sub-district level. In addition, miking activity should be taken up in all Gram Panchayats to create awareness,” Pandit said. Notably, each district has been provided Rs 1 lakh through the State Health Assurance Society (SHAS) account to carry out these campaigns. “However, if there is requirement of further funds, the same can be intimated to the CEO, SHAS and it will be reimbursed from State Health Assurance Society,” she added.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP
