The Union Health Ministry said the National Health Authority (NHA) is working to integrate the database of Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 beneficiaries with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) portal.
Context
The Union Health Ministry said the National Health Authority (NHA) is working to integrate the database of Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 beneficiaries with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) portal.
Key-Points
- NHA has collaborated with various ministries implementing welfare schemes to strengthen the different aspects of scheme implementation including inter alia beneficiary awareness campaigns, beneficiary database (SECC 2011) enrichment etc.
- The beneficiary database enrichment under AB PM-JAY would mean adding additional parameters to the database for ease of search.
- The majority of AB PM-JAY beneficiaries from SECC 2011 are also eligible for benefits under the National Food Security Portal (NFSA).
- NHA is also working on a proposal to use Fair Price Shops or Ration shops for providing information related to the scheme and entitlement under the scheme to eligible beneficiaries.
- This will provide an additional avenue to beneficiaries along with the existing Common Service Center for card creation. This will make the beneficiary identification process very convenient.
- However, the existing beneficiary data available with various Government welfare schemes can be meaningfully utilized only if a common identifier is available.
- Aadhaar being a common identity across the majority of Government databases will enable this integration.
- Further, Aadhaar also ensures certainty regarding beneficiary identification through e-KYC.
- e-KYC enables paperless delivery of services in a targeted manner.
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
- AB-PMJAY provides health insurance of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. Insurance is provided for secondary and tertiary care-related hospitalizations.
- Cashless and paperless access to services is provided to the beneficiaries at the point of service.
- The Health Benefits Packages covers surgery, medical and daycare treatments, the cost of medicines and diagnostics.
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Under the scheme, 10.74 crore beneficiary families have been identified, from the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011 on the basis of 6 deprivation and 11 occupational criteria respectively in rural and urban areas.
- Majority of beneficiaries from SECC, 2011 are also eligible for benefits under National Food Security Portal (NFSA).
About National Health Authority (NHA)
- The National Health Authority (NHA) has been constituted as an autonomous entity under the Society Registration Act, 1860 for effective implementation of PM-JAY in alliance with state governments.
- NHA is responsible for implementing the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
- It was set-up to implement PM-JAY at national level.
- It is the successor of the National Health Agency.
- The National Health Agency was reconstituted as National Health Authority in January 2019.
- The State Health Agency (SHA) is the apex body of the State Government responsible for the implementation of AB PM-JAY in the State.
