Haryana government to provide health insurance to domestic workers

CHANDIGARH: Haryana government has decided in principle to bring domestic workers under the ambit of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY).

An official spokesman said here today that under this scheme, smart card based cashless health insurance cover of Rs 30,000 per annum is provided to a family of five. All pre-existing diseases would be covered, he added.

Apart from hospitalisation expenses, the scheme would take care of most of the illnesses, including maternity benefits, he said, adding that transportation cost of Rs 100 per visit with an overall limit of Rs 1000 per annum would be given.

He said that the state government will identify domestic workers who have completed 18 years of age.

As per the guidelines of the scheme, a domestic worker is defined as a person who is employed for remuneration, whether in cash or kind in any household through any agency or directly either on a temporary basis or permanent, part-time or full-time to do the household work, but does not include any member of the family of an employer.

He said that the central government would share 75 per cent of the estimated annual premium of Rs 750 subject to a maximum of Rs 565 per family per annum.

Additionally the cost of smart card estimated at Rs 60 would also be borne by the central government. Remaining 25 per cent would be borne by the state government, he said.