Ooty
, April 27 (IANS) While Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has become a cornerstone of Modi government's commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the scheme has motivated many ‘volunteers’ to spread awareness about the gamechanger scheme among the masses, particularly those who have remained outside the ambit of it.
In Tamil Nadu’s Ooty, Professor Dr Uma Mallen has taken up the initiative of educating and encouraging villagers to get themselves enrolled for the Ayushman Bharat cards, so that they become registered beneficiaries of the scheme.
Dr Mallen has also earned the public’s admiration and appreciation for making personal visits to their homes in the Nilgiris district and educating them about the medical insurance cards, under which a family is entitled to get a cover of Rs 5 lakh.
The Nilgiris, a hilly region, is home to many villages lacking basic amenities.
Dr Uma Mallen, Professor and Founder Chairman of the Rise Foundation, has taken up the task of promoting the government’s welfare schemes among the masses. Her foundation informs the public about Central government schemes, distributes medical insurance cards and also creates awareness about MUDRA bank loans and educational loans for school students.
She also makes visits to tribal villages in the Nilgiris district to raise awareness about Central government schemes.
Professor Uma Mallen is also promoting environmental protection among the villagers by distributing saplings to villagers, encouraging them to plant trees in their mothers' names. She is also raising awareness about the Central government's 100-day employment scheme, which aims to provide employment opportunities to rural people and improve water resources.
Notably, the Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23, 2018. With an ambitious goal of covering over 12 crore families, or nearly 55 crore individuals, PM-JAY has become the largest health assurance scheme in the world, offering comprehensive secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Dr. Mallen is doing incredible work! 👠Many villagers don't know about these schemes that could change their lives. More professors should take inspiration from her grassroots approach.
While the initiative is commendable, I wonder about the actual accessibility of hospitals that accept these cards in remote hilly areas. The scheme is great but implementation needs equal focus.
My aunt in Ooty got her Ayushman card last month thanks to Dr. Mallen's team! They patiently explained everything in Tamil. Now she can finally get her knee surgery without worrying about costs â¤ï¸
Combining environmental awareness with healthcare education is brilliant. Planting trees in mothers' names while explaining health schemes creates deeper community connections. More power to her!
Does anyone know if the Rise Foundation accepts volunteers? I'm from Coimbatore and would love to help with their awareness campaigns during weekends.
The 5 lakh coverage sounds impressive, but in reality many private hospitals inflate bills when they see these cards. Government should monitor this aspect more strictly.
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