Sarthak Kanjilall
Port Blair, July 22: Highlighting a thorough comparison between the Ayushman Bharat Scheme and ANISHI scheme of Andaman, the President of non-political organization, Island Protection Forum has requested the Home Minister, Ministry to Home Affairs to let the ANISHI scheme continue in the Islands instead of replacing it with Ayushman Bharat.
In a letter addressed to the Home Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. MT. Musthafa stated that the ANISHI scheme which was introduced in the Islands in the year 2015 can be extended to the Islanders who have an annual income of less than Rs 03:00 lakhs, whereas the Ayushman Bharat Scheme which is all set to replace the ANISHI Scheme can only facilitate the families coming under Below Poverty Line category.
Mr. Musthafa also stated that the total coverage under the ANISHI scheme is for a much larger group of Islanders because it includes all those who are having annual income less than Rs 3.00 lakhs and also pensioners of A&N Administration, while, as per the SECC Survey of A&N Islands only around 21000 families are getting covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, as a result of which very small group of Islanders will be benefited in the scheme.
Adding to the drawback of Ayushman Bharat Scheme in the Islands, Mr. Musthafa stated that this scheme extends cashless treatment up to Rs 5.00 lakhs per family which also includes the treatment availed at the Tertiary Hospitals in the Islands itself while on the contrary, under ANISHI Scheme cashless treatment up to Rs 5.00 lakhs per person is extended to the beneficiaries upon their referral to mainland hospitals by the Health Department of Administration.
With great importance for the Islanders, the President, Island Protection Forum highlighted that under Ayushman Bharat Scheme, the patient is not eligible for any transportation allowances, while on the other hand, the referred patient under the ANISHI Scheme is entitled to travel fare including that of the attendant. “The stretcher patients are also entitled to get flight tickets through ANIIDCO by paying only one-sixth of the stretcher ticket cost subject to air referral by the Health Department,” Mr. Musthafa added.
Finally, Mr. Musthafa stated that under the ANISHI Scheme, the empaneled Hospital provides free pickup transportation for the patient from the AirPort or Port, as per the communication from Directorate of Health Services but in case of Ayushman Bharat Scheme, the choice of hospital is the responsibility of the patient following as a result of which the Directorate of Health Services will play no role to aid the referred patient in the AirPort or Port.
Due to the aforementioned benefits of the ANISHI Scheme, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has however urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to consider continuance of ANISHI scheme but no communication was received till April 2020.
“During the lockdown period, the A&N Administration referred some critical poor patients to the mainland under the ANISHI scheme even without fund availability,” said Mr. Musthafa.
He added that the financial burden for the above cases was considered from the LG relief fund by Lt Governor of A&N Islands, which has to be highly appreciated.
Explaining the Home Minister further in his letter, the President, IPF stated that with several requests by the A&N Administration, they got another extension for the ANISHI Scheme from the Ministry of Home Affairs up to June 2020 only.
“The AN Administration has already sent a reminder letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs on 29th June 2020 and 04th July 2020, with the proposal of the continuance of the ANISHI scheme or implementing Ayushman Bharat by including the provision of ANIISHI scheme, unfortunately, it is pending with the Home Ministry,” added Mr. Musthafa.
Due to the remoteness of the Islands from mainland India, the Islanders are in dire need of the ANISHI scheme, hence, Mr. Musthafa requested the Home Minister to pay heed to the matter and permit the continuance of the existing ANISHI scheme or implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme by including the provision of the ANISHI Scheme.
