Biometric insurance cards for BPL families

BANGALORE: If all goes well, Below Poverty Line (BPL) family members can avail medical treatment at high-end private hospitals in Bangalore. Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to issue biometric smart insurance cards to around seven lakh BPL families in the city.Palike has approved Rs. 20 crore to be set aside for the Vajpayee Arogyashree Scheme for BPL families, SC/ST community, transgenders, physically-challenged, auto drivers, widows, pourakarmikas, slum-dwellers, old-age pensioners and construction workers in its budget.Medical insurance for each family will cover up to Rs. 1.5 lakh for a family of five. Palike will also tie up with around 70 multi-speciality hospitals to provide medical treatment.Currently, Palike is in the process of identifying beneficiaries. Speaking to Express  , BBMP additional commissioner (health) Y M Ramachandramurthy says that Palike has written a letter to the Transport Department to provide details of all licensed heavy vehicle drivers as well as taxi and autorickshaw drivers who come under BPL.  Palike officials at zonal level have also been instructed to identify beneficiaries. “Identification process is expected to be completed by  this month end,” he says. The Palike is also hoping to start distributing the cards soon. “We will begin with distributing the cards to 10,000 beneficiary families.  We will cover seven lakh families in a span of one year,” he adds.  Palike is planning to issue biometric health insurance cards at 27 centres in the City. Beneficiaries can get their card at the nearest centre but Ramachandramurthy cautions,” While issuing the cards, family members of the beneficiary have to be physically present. This  will  enable us to record their finger prints. By adopting the biometric system, none can misuse the card.”Explaining the difference between Palike’s Arogyashri and Union Labour department’s Rashtriya Swasta Bhima Yojana, he says that Palike’s insurance amount will cover Rs. 1.5 lakh for a family of five members, while the latter’s insurance amount will be Rs. 30,000 per family for five members. This initiative is first of its kind in Palike, he concludes.