India News | Patnaik Distributes Smart Health Card, Inaugurates Projects in Bolangir

Bolangir (Odisha), Sept 22 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said 96 lakh families across the state will get smart health cards Cards under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY).

Also Read | Chennai Shocker: 59-Year-Old Woman Beheaded To Take Revenge of 2012 Murder of Dalit Leader Pasupathi Pandian, Head Placed at His Home in Dindigul.

Patnaik distributed the smart health cards to some beneficiaries in Bolangir town, Titlagarh, and Patnagarh in Bolangir district, a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said.

Also Read | Punjab Congress Crisis: Will Fight Navjot Singh Sidhu's Elevation to Chief Ministership, Says Captain Amarinder Singh.

Bolangir is the third tribal-dominated district after Malkangiri and Sundergarh where Patnaik had launched the distribution of the smart health cards.

The chief minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for several projects amid protests by opposition Congress activists over several issues.

The Congress supporters staged demonstrations and courted arrests demanding smart health cards for all citizens, declaration of Bolangir district as drought-hit, setting up of an agricultural university and a High Court bench in the district, and revival of the Deogaon sugar factory.

During his one-day visit to the district belonging to the backward KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) region, Patnaik inaugurated projects worth Rs 200 crore and laid foundation stones for other projects worth Rs 600 crore.

The chief minister also said that the state government would provide all support for the development of Rajendra University in Bolangir and ensure the improvement of amenities at the famous pilgrim centre in Baharishankar Peeth.

While distributing the smart health cards among some beneficiaries, Patnaik said as many as 4.5 lakh families in Bolangir district will benefit from this card.

While each family will get treatment costs up to Rs 5 lakh, women are entitled to get up to Rs 10 lakh.

Patnaik said the beneficiaries can avail treatment by using this card in 200 major hospitals of the country.

Pointing out that the state government will make the payments, he said Odisha is the first state in the country to launch such an initiative in the health sector.

Patnaik had announced on Independence day that smart health cards would be provided to 3.5 crore people of the state under the BSKY.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)