I have left a comment at TOI site urging that Aarogyasri type of
Insurance be persuaded and pursued up in Orissa also. Please visit the
site and leave a similar comment if you can. Recently I got a message
from HelpAge (Mr Cherian) asking us to take up this issue (Aarogyasri)
with IRDA. If we generate enough public opinion and noise someone
among the powers that be may be listening.
Vyasamoorthy
==============
Now for the news
BHUBANESWAR: Senior citizens in the city demanded that the Orissa
government launch a health insurance scheme for elderly persons on the
lines of Rajiv Arogyashri Yojana in Andhra Pradesh. They also asked
the government to form the state policy for older persons in such a
manner that most of their problems can be addressed.
"Health is a major concern for older persons. It is more challenging
for the poor and especially for those staying in rural areas," said
Krupasindhu Sahu, president of Senior Citizen's Association, VSS
Nagar.
"It is the primary responsibility of both the state and the central
government to provide healthcare to the marginal sector. Senior
citizens, irrespective of their socio-economic condition, should be
treated as a marginalized section of the populace. The state
government should ideally provide insurance schemes to the elderly
designed on the pattern of Rajiv Aarogyasri Committee Health Insurance
Scheme in Andhra Pradesh, which should cover all senior citizens,"
Sahu pointed out.
He said this during a day-long awareness programme on health insurance
for senior citizens here on Friday organized by voluntary organisation
HelpAge India, Orissa chapter. National director (advocacy) of HelpAge
India, Harvinder S Bakshi said, "The Orissa government has already
prepared a draft policy for older persons. But in the policy, they
must include the recommendations of the Sashtry Committee. If this is
done, then many problems of older persons could be solved."
They also suggested to the state government and insurance companies
that the insurance schemes for the elderly should be simple and
user-friendly with modest premium within the reach of upper middle
class, income tax payers, lower middle class and poor elders.
"There is need for political will. It should be realised by all
political parties that the elderly constitute about 22 per cent of the
electorate and so it would be expedient for them to take care of this
category," said N K Mohapatra, a senior citizen.
"We are going to start several services for senior citizens of the
city from April 1, including library, recreation, a Gup-Shup corner
with arrangement of beverages, volunteer counselling for health and
well-being, assistive devices like first-aid kit, wheel chair, walker
and computer and internet facilities," said Rashmi Mohanty of HelpAge
India, Orissa Chapter.
=========
Dr P Vyasamoorthy, 30 Gruhalakshmi Colony Secunderabad 500015 Ph
040-27846631 / 9490804278.My blog:
http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/
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