Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh on Thursday said that beneficiaries of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), a subsidised ration scheme for the poor, will be among the first to be enrolled for the Central government’s flagship health insurance scheme, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). He said the scheme will soon be implemented in the city.
As per the National Food Security Act portal, Delhi had 68,708 AAY beneficiaries as of 2021. ‘Priority Household’ ration card holders in the Capital, estimated to be nearly 17 lakh, will also be among those whose enrolment would be prioritised, he added. The previous AAP government did not implement the programme claiming its health insurance scheme was much better. Extending the scheme to Delhi was one of the BJP’s poll promises. “We are setting the criteria and making the list of beneficiaries,” Mr. Singh told The Hindu. He said the aim is to add 1 lakh beneficiaries to PM-JAY in the first month of the scheme’s implementation.
The Delhi government has allocated ₹2,144 crore for the scheme.
Published - April 04, 2025 01:32 am IST
