Vijayawada Parliamentary constituency comprising 265 villages in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday became the first area in the country to have health insurance for all from a new born to senior citizens. The ‘Swastha Kutambham’ health insurance scheme launched by Andhra Pradesh Government in association with Tata Trusts covers health for all in the rural areas, and was introduced recently in the villages under Vijayawada MP Constituency.

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“The health insurance will cover all the villagers for a year from December 1, 2016 to November 30, 2017. The Tata Trust has paid the first premium on behalf of all the families in the 265 villages, covering nearly ten lakh people. From next year, every individual has to pay Rs 1 per day or Rs 120 per month per family as premium. The scheme covers medical insurance up to Rs one lakh. The Tata Trust has appointed health coordinators in all the villages and the Star Health insurance company has set up a control room in Vijayawada to answer queries or register incoming insurance claims,’’ TDP MP from Vijayawada, Kesineni Srinivas, told The Indian Express.

Tata Trust chairman Ratan Tata during his visit to Vijayawada last year entered into a MoU with Governemtn of AP to take up women empowerment programmes and welfare schemes by adopting all the villages in the constituency with the initiative of MP Kesineni Srinivas.

Tata Trust coordinator Pavitra Kumar said that the Tata Trust has been implementing the welfare programmes in Vijayawada Parliamentary constituency in coordination with MP Kesineni and Government of AP. “For the first time the Trust has launched such a massive project in any Parliamentary constituency. Vijayawada Parliamentary constituency will emerge as number one in community health programmes very soon,’’ he said. Pavitra Kumar said that the Vijayawada Parliamentary area has achieved a distinction by launching health for all right from just born baby to senior citizens in all the 265 villages of the constituency today.

MP Kesineni Srinivas said the health scheme is a unique model in the country. “The implementation of this health scheme is possible only because the TDP Government is ensuring that there is better coordination between Ministers, party leaders, and officials. This health scheme covers all sections of people. The government has been extending support to implement several welfare programmes under the leadership of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu,’’ Srinivas said.

Participating as chief guest, Minster for Water Resources Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said the health scheme would provide health security among people. He said that the party leaders should bring awareness among people over the welfare programmes being implemented in the constituency.

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