Kolkata:
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today announced withdrawal of the state from its share of Ayushman Bharat alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking all the credit for the health scheme while ignoring the state’s contribution.
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“My state will not contribute 40% of the funds for the Ayushman scheme. Centre has to pay the full amount if Centre wants to run the scheme, stated Mamata Banerjee. Addressing a public meet, a visibly angry Mamata said, “He is sending letters to people across Bengal through post offices claiming that they are behind this health scheme.”
The Bengal Chief Minister has accused the Modi government of using government post offices for party work.
The Ayushman Bharat scheme in West Bengal was merged with Mamata’ Swasthya Sathi health scheme, where the state government provides for 40 percent of the total cost.
Crying lack of transparency in the way the Modi government is projecting the scheme, Mamata has decided to withdraw the scheme from Bengal. “Let them take credit,” she said.
She also said that state had a better option in Arogyashri.
Bengal is already running a similar scheme, ‘Swasthya Saathi’ since 2017, which provides paperless, cashless and smartcard-based facilities to its citizens. Basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care up to Rs 1.5 lakh a year through insurance mode is provided under the scheme.
She further alleged that the Modi government was running a parallel administration in states. " They are claiming to do everything from health projects, housing, education infrastructure and even Kanyashree. If you ( Centre) you are doing everything…