Malkangiri: Health insurance schemes, launched by both the Centre and the state government, have failed to serve the purpose of poor tribals of the district.
A case in point is the family of Padia Padiami of RO Colony under Tamasa panchayat, 3 km from district headquarters hospital. The family of five including a son and two daughters, belongs to tribal Koya community. Besides getting a BPL card, they also come under the government’s ‘extremely poor’ category. Despite this, the family is yet to get the benefits meant for the poor.
For instance, Padia’s younger daughter Kalpana (8) has been suffering from a mysterious disease for last four years. However, she has not yet been provided with the benefits available under government-sponsored health insurance schemes.
Four years back, Kalpana experienced severe pain in her stomach and as time passed her hands and feet became thinner. Seeing her in such miserable condition, Padia took his daughter to DHH about three months back. The doctors referred her to Berhampur-based MKCG Medical College and Hospital, saying a major surgery could cure the girl. A helpless Padia had to sell his goats—a major source of his income – so that he could arrange Rs20,000 to meet the medical expenses of Kalpana. After staying there for 10 days and exhausting the entire amount, doctors asked him to take the girl to Malkangiri back and transfuse blood regularly for a month after which a surgery can be conducted on her.
“It is impossible for me to take Kalpana to Berhampur again as we find it difficult to arrange even a square meal for ourselves these days,” Padia said. Apart from being a BPL-card holder, he also possesses a Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana card. The family is yet to get a house under IAY or Biju Pucca Ghar scheme. The couple now works round the clock at private homes to feed their three children.
When contacted, ADMO Shashi Bhusan Mohapatra said if the family comes under BPL category and possesses Biju Krushak Yojana card they can avail all medical care and the expenses would be borne by the health department. PNN