The BJP and the BJD on Sunday locked horns over Odisha’s decision not to implement Centre’s flagship health scheme Ayushman Bharat and instead roll out its own Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) from August 15.
While Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan termed the Naveen dispensation decision as purely political and against the state’s interest, BJD spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Pratap Keshari Deb justified the state move saying the Central scheme has terms and conditions which would be difficult to fulfil, depriving poor people from availing the promised benefits.
Addressing a news conference here, Dharmendra said politics should be kept aside while considering welfare issues of poor people. They will be deprived of benefits of the central scheme with the Naveen government’s decision, he said.
If Ayushman Bharat is implemented, people from Odisha who migrate to other states in search of works can avail free health benefits at their workplace with their cards. Many people from Odisha also go to outside state hospitals for better treatment. They can avail free healthcare there. “I don’t understand what the point of contention is. The central scheme is not named after anyone. That may have pained Naveen,” Dharmendra sarcastically said.