The West Bengal administration has commenced preparations for the rollout of the Centre's flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, in the state. This development comes just ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government, scheduled for Saturday. A high-level meeting was convened on Friday to deliberate on the implementation modalities, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Meeting Highlights
Senior officials from the state health department participated in the meeting, while representatives from the Union health ministry joined via video conferencing. The discussions primarily revolved around the operational framework for implementing the scheme in Bengal and the process of distributing Ayushman cards to eligible beneficiaries. Other logistical issues related to the scheme's rollout were also addressed during the session.
Earlier, officials from the state health department had held a meeting with delegates from the National Health Authority, the apex body responsible for overseeing the implementation of Ayushman Bharat, sources added.
Jal Jeevan Mission Funds
In a related development, the Centre is set to release Rs 2,700 crore in pending funds to West Bengal under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a Government of India initiative aimed at providing tap water connections to every household. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced during election rallies that if the BJP came to power in Bengal, the first cabinet meeting would approve the implementation of Ayushman Bharat in the state. This marks a significant policy shift after years of resistance from the previous Trinamool Congress government.
The Mamata Banerjee-led cabinet had earlier refused to implement the scheme, citing the existence of the state's own health insurance program, Swasthya Sathi.
Upcoming Meetings and MoU
Sources indicated that a meeting regarding the Jal Jeevan Mission will soon be held between the secretary of the state public health engineering department and the secretary of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to finalize the process. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Centre and the state is expected to be signed shortly, after which the pending dues will be released. The state government has already submitted detailed reports to the Centre concerning the pending allocation and the progress made in providing household tap water connections under the scheme.
Of the Rs 24,645 crore allocated to the state between 2019-20 and 2023-24 under this scheme, only 53% was utilized. The issue had been a major point of contention between the Centre and the Trinamool government. The Centre had raised objections over branding and implementation norms, alleging that central guidelines were not being followed properly by the state. Although the state later agreed to comply with the norms, the release of funds remained stalled for an extended period.
Check Madhyamik Result 2026 online at TOI and real-time WB 10th result updates. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata
