National health Insurance not renewed in GTA area

MUKESH SHARMA, KalimpongNews Express, Kalimpong, August 19: CPIM leader Tara Sundas has raised question on the National Health Insurance Scheme in which people belonging to poor families are being insured up to an amount of Rs 30, 000/-. Addressing a press conference Sundas said that the scheme started in 2010 for which about 1,44,484 people got the Master Card with pix.The validity of the card was upto Oct 13. 

Sundas alleged that no renewal process was initiated yet in nine districts including Darjeeling in West Bengal. He informed that the apathy is continued when Gautam Dev NBDM ordered to start process of renewal in Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad and SMC area on 19th Feb this year after which the poor people are getting benefit in plains. He raised question about the poor people living in GTA area . Sundas said that about 33,987 BPL families has been registered in the scheme.

The scheme is sponsored by the Central Government, the Central Government paying 75 percent and 25 percent is paid by the State Government in the scheme but No renewal has been started in hills , Sundas said that hill people are being deprived by the state government when the process of renewal can start in Siliguri y not in hills ? Is GTA BPL families been sideline . He added that We need our benefit not alms.

He demanded that Alleging that the Government is simply fooling the people, the politician demanded that equal provisions should be provided to the people of the hills and the plains without being bias. . Sundas recommends the Government and the political parties to concentrate on this issue.