Temporary health cards for now: Mamata - The Swasthya Sathi scheme earlier covered 7.5 crore people

Printing biometric cards in huge numbers is an issue since the state government decided to include 2.5 crore people in November

Mamata Banerjee. ; File picture

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TT   |   Calcutta   |    26.01.21 : Mamata Banerjee on Monday said those not getting biometric cards under the state’s Swasthya Sathi free health insurance scheme before polls would get temporary cards to ensure cashless treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh.

“We are going to give Swasthya Sathi cards to all residents of the state… Those yet to get the card within this short window will be given a temporary card, which will be converted into smart cards soon. Temporary cards will ensure free treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh for the family of a beneficiary,” said the chief minister at a party rally in Hooghly’s Pursura on Monday.

Mamata, sources said, tried to address a concern among the masses on whether they would get cards ahead of the polls.

“The BJP is trying to play politics saying the state would not give cards to all as issuing cards to the beneficiaries was taking some time…The chief minister made it clear that people should not be confused by the BJP’s campaign while announcing that every applicant would get a temporary card,” said a senior bureaucrat.

Mamata explained why the state government was unable to issue cards to all applicants.

“We are not able to print more than 1.5 lakh biometric cards (even) by deploying the maximum possible number of machines... Those who didn’t get the card within the short time frame should know that the process will continue even after elections (dates) are declared,” Mamata said.

Sources said as Swasthya Sathi was a declared scheme, the process of issuing cards to beneficiaries could be carried on even after poll dates are declared.

Printing biometric cards in huge numbers is an issue since the state government decided to include 2.5 crore people — earlier left outside the ambit of the scheme — in November.

“The scheme earlier covered 7.5 crore people and once the rest 2.5 crore people were added into the list of beneficiaries, it was found that it would be tough to print more than 1.25 lakh cards a day even if we hire all agencies working in the field. Right now, we are printing about 1 lakh cards a day and will try to increase it to 1.25 lakh soon,” said an official.

A government report says the state brought in 76.26 lakh people under the scheme since December 1 when Duare Sarkar was launched. By May, all beneficiaries will get cards, an official said.

“In all likelihood, election (dates) will be declared by mid-February. The government is trying to issue temporary cards to all applicants under the scheme with cards to the maximum number of people ahead of polls,” said an official.