Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 25: The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is likely to be renamed as Rashtriya Swasthya Surakhya Yojana (RSSY) after a decision was taken by the Union government to exclude private insurance companies from the scheme.
The decision to exclude private insurance companies was taken at a recently held high level meeting in New Delhi after some findings revealed that the companies are misutilisting RSBY funds.
Many beneficiaries under the scheme were deprived of their entitlements while some
others enjoyed the funds
double the amount through forgery.
In Orissa, five insurance companies have signed agreements in this regard with the state government whose contracts will be expired in September.
Sources at the health department said the contracts would be renewed and extended till March next year as the state is not yet ready implement the amendments.
The beneficiaries under the scheme were earlier people belonging to bellow poverty line (BPL) category.
However, the new amendments will allow unorganised labourers’ families to register for the scheme.
As per revised norms, the maximum amount has now been raised up to `50,000 from `30,000 earlier per person on an annual basis.
It has also been decided to include all members of a beneficiary family rather than only five members earlier.
The health officials have found multiple discrepancies on the parts of insurance companies while the recent amendments would certainly benefit the poor to a larger extent, said an official of the health department requesting not to be named.
