Rajasthan Govt’s health insurance scheme should be implemented across India: CM Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on January 13 said that his government's Chiranjeevi Health Insurance scheme should be implemented across the country.

CM Gehlot stated that the Central Government should take initiative to introduce a Social Security Act and implement the Old Pension Scheme for government employees, adding that he has already requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.

The Rajasthan Chief Minister was addressing a gathering at the closing ceremony of the All India Presiding Officers' Conference at the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly in Jaipur.

The Rajasthan Government provides health insurance of Rs 10 lakh under the scheme and also bears the expense for organ transplants. “Treatment in the in-patient and out-patient departments at government hospitals are also free”, CM Gehlot said.

"Social security should be compulsory. It is the responsibility of the government to look after the needy families," the Rajasthan CM said.

CM Gehlot emphasized that his government provides social security to 1 crore people, that covers the elderly, widows and the single women.

Talking about the Old Pension Scheme for state government employees, he stated the move was criticised but the decision was taken after doing all the calculations.

“The Old Pension Scheme should also be implemented across the country,” CM Gehlot said.

Recently, the state Assembly Speaker CP Joshi had raised the issue of financial autonomy of the presiding officers. To this, Gehlot said, "I also agree on this in principle. I would like to say that as soon as the proposal comes from the Assembly, we will consider it from a positive perspective."

"Whenever we sit together and discuss, new ideas emerge automatically, suggestions are put forward, decisions are also made on the basis of that and everyone gets the benefits. CP Joshi represented the sentiments of all of you very effectively," he said.