Patna: The Bihar government has expanded the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to include ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers, providing them and their families with free medical treatment worth up to Rs 5 lakh a year.
Under the expanded coverage, personnel of the Special Armed Police Force and workers registered with the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board will also be eligible for the scheme. The move is expected to benefit more than 17 lakh worker families across the state.
According to the State Health Security Committee, 268,492 families of ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and helpers have been brought under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. In addition, around 1.426 million families registered with the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board are now covered.
Shashank Shekhar, the chief executive officer of the Bihar Health Security Committee, said the Labour Resources Department would provide health insurance for registered construction workers and bear the treatment costs if they fall ill. He added that the total number of beneficiaries among ASHA and Anganwadi workers and helpers alone exceeded 300,000.
The government said the decision was aimed at strengthening social security for frontline workers and those in the unorganised sector, ensuring they are protected from financial hardship in the event of serious illness.
