Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta addresses the Mou signing ceremony between the National Health Authority and the Government of Delhi for the rollout of Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), in New Delhi on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: ANI

A war of words broke out between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday after the MoU for the implementation of the Central government’s Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) in Delhi was signed.

Addressing the event held in Rang Bhawan on Sansad Marg, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the previous AAP government had, out of “stubbornness”, deprived the national capital of the scheme that “could have been a lifeline for its citizens”.

In response, the principal Opposition party claimed that by signing the MoU on PM-JAY, the BJP had paved the way for “health mafia to exploit the downtrodden”.

According to officials, 80 hospitals in the Capital, including 46 private facilities and 34 run by the Union and State governments, will be empanelled under the scheme. Around 2.35 lakh people of a total of 36 lakh beneficiaries are expected to receive PM-JAY cards in the first phase starting on April 10.

Political tussle

“[Under AAP’s tenure] Patients were dying waiting for the want of treatment. People in Delhi can now undergo treatment at their preferred hospitals, without any worries,” said the CM.

AAP also attacked the ruling party over Delhi’s “crumbling” health care. “The BJP had promised not to shut down public welfare schemes, but in reality, the initiatives set up by us are already falling apart,” said MLA Jarnail Singh.

A senior official said the scheme will be implemented in the city by Delhi’s State Health Agency. “It will help set up bank accounts, empanel hospitals, release funds to the beneficiaries and provide grievance redressal,” said the official. The official added that the list of beneficiaries has been compiled based on data from the 2011 census.

Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said the beneficiaries of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), as well as those holding Priority Household ration cards under the National Food Security Act, will be enrolled on priority. AAY beneficiaries get 35 kg of subsidised food grains, while Priority Household card holders get 5 kg of subsidised grains monthly.