It is not even two weeks since the Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana–Ayushman Bharat and called it a game-changer initiative to serve the poor and the names of few important people from Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh has emerged among its beneficiaries. The names include of a senior cabinet minister of Uttar Pradesh, Satish Mahana, his family members, a former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA, Salil Vishnoi, and several other prominent businessmen and city builders, as beneficiaries of the National Health Protection Scheme for BPL families.
The Centre’s biggest health insurance scheme, PMJAY is aimed at providing health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to the families under the poverty line in rural and urban areas. It offers cashless health services and hospitalisation facilities to the deprived section of society.
The matter came to light only when Satish Mahana himself approached Kanpur District Magistrate after finding his name in the list of beneficiaries on the PMJAY scheme website. He also asked the DM to take check the irregularities and asked him to order a probe into the gross negligence. Mahana is a veteran legislator from Kanpur and minister for industrial development in Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh.
“I came to know from reliable sources that mine, as well as my family members’ names, were reflecting on the Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY beneficiary scheme website. Immediately, I contacted district officials and instructed them to conduct a thorough probe into it and initiate strict action against those who are responsible for gross irregularity,” said Satish Mahana.
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Mahana said that he and his family is not eligible for the scheme according to the parameters required for selection of the beneficiaries and so it is a matter of great concern and needs a probe into it. Later District officials investigated the case and found that there were other important names from BJP including a former MLA and his family members and many businessmen.
“The entire matter should be probed and those responsible for it should be punished. The scheme is meant for the poor and downtrodden,” said Mahana.
According to Kanpur District Magistrate, a probe has been ordered into the matter. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ashok Shukla has been asked to conduct the inquiry and submit a report regarding the matter. The list includes Satish Mahana, his wife Anita Mahana and family members Karan Mahana, Radhika, Jahanavi and Neha with beneficiary ID no:093300273770037015900063 allotted by the authorities.
