‘Include Covid-19 in medical aid scheme’
CM issues direction during a virtual meet; Covid-19 pandemic not covered under the scheme as of now
Jharkhand will soon revise its medical aid schemes and set up a chief minister’s (CM) cell in a bid to provide maximum benefits to people suffering from Covid-19, besides helping them to deal with the pandemic. The decision was taken at a virtual review meeting chaired by CM Hemant Soren on Tuesday.
The CM asked heads of concerned departments to revise the medical aid scheme in a bid to incorporate Covid-19 in it so that affected people can avail scheme benefits. “The government is closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation. A CM’s cell is being formed in this regard,” Soren said, as he sought suggestions from officials for formulating further strategies.
The Covid-19 pandemic doesn’t come under the purview of the state scheme as of now. The government was preparing a plan to benefit dependents of persons who died due to coronavirus disease under the scheme. Under this, they will be provided pension, housing and other facilities by the government according to
their needs, officials aware of the developments said.
Soren also stressed upon profiling of infected persons in rural Jharkhand. “A large number of people are getting infected with the virus. We are getting information about the spread in cities to a great extent, but data of infected people in rural areas is not available. Infection is spreading rapidly in villages too. Departmental heads should prepare profiles of such people in rural areas,” he said.
Besides, the CM emphasized on building quarantine centres in rural areas in light of rapidly soaring Covid-19 cases. “People’s representatives of Panchayati Raj suggested to restart quarantine centres in panchayats.
The government has started the initiative,” Soren said and directed authorities concerned to make food arrangements at quarantine centres.
The CM, along with the chief secretary, also reviewed progress of developmental and welfare schemes of the government.
During the meeting, chief secretary Sukhdev Singh said special attention needed to be paid to formulation and implementation of schemes in view of the current scenario. He said the schemes, that were approved but not alloted, should be allotted by May 15.