J-K govt to bring BPL families under health insurance cover

JAMMU: The BPL families living in 10 districts of Jammu and Kashmir will be brought under health insurance cover, a state Minister said today.

"Health insurance cover to BPL families in 10 districts of the state is being introduced under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna," Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan said in Rajouri district.

Srinagar and Jammu districts have already been covered under the scheme, he said.

The process for purchase of 200 ambulances is in process, the Minister said.

Several steps have been taken to reverse the trend of declining child sex ratio and the Health department has dedicated 2013 to "save the girl child", Khan said.

The Minister said all such areas having difficult topography would be provided health centre facilities.

Khan said that under the flagship programme of National Rural Health Mission, a whooping amount of Rs 333.65 crore have been provided for construction and up-gradation of various health institutions against which over Rs 274 crore have been incurred for the purpose.

He said holding of Panchayat elections, enactment of Right to Information Act and Public Service Guarantee Act are among the important steps taken by the state government