No Ayushman cover: Dalit man cries for help to save ailing wife
POSTED ON APRIL 18, 2022
Agra: A 42-year-old dalit construction labourer and carpenter, Khadak Singh, has been making the rounds of the offices of the local authorities here since past eight months to arrange for Rs 2.5 lakh required for treatment of his wife Rajwati, a heart patient. A resident of Aamkapura Jaraar village in Agra’s Bah block, Khadak singh even knocked at the CM’s door in Lucknow, but to no avail.
This father of three minors, including a 10-month-old baby girl, said he tried to enroll for the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, aimed at providing affordable healthcare in the form of tertiary hospital treatment to the poor and the vulnerable through a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year. Despite proof of an annual income of Rs 46,000, he was turned away by officials, he claimed.
Being a registered carpenter with the UP building and other construction worker’s welfare board, Khadak Singh sought help from the labour department. Here too, his pleas fell on deaf ears.
With every passing day, Khadak Singh said his wife’s condition is getting worse. He said she was diagnosed with Rheumatic heart disease eight months ago. Doctors said she urgently needed surgery. “Since September, I have borrowed over Rs 60,000 for her treatment. I tried everything possible to get an Ayushman Bharat card, but authorities claimed that my family is not included in the list of beneficiaries. The bank is not ready to provide me with a loan. I request the state government to help me before it is too late,” he said.
Local resident Shaligram said, “Most Dalit families in the village, including Khadak Singh’s family, are not covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.”
Sub-divisional magistrate, Bah, Ratan Verma said he was aware of the matter. “The demand for monetary assistance for the treatment of the patient is being processed. We will ensure the family is covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.”
Courtesy : Times of india
Note: This news piece was originally published in timesofindia.indiatimes.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights .
