Only 13.8% of health smart card holders 'benefit' from Odisha flagship programme

By Our Representative
Inclusion of eligible beneficiaries and awareness of the scheme, especially among rural communities, will bolster the Odisha government’s Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), which aims to provide universal health coverage with special emphasis on the health protection of economically vulnerable families, an online study report titled “Implementation of BSKY Scheme in Odisha” has said.
Released by the NGO Atmashakti Trust and its allies Odisha Shramajeebee Mancha and Mahila Shramajeebee Mancha, Odisha, the study was conducted between July and August 2022, covering 12 districts (Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Mayurbhanj), where there is a predominant population of tribals Dalits and other marginalized communities.
The study collected responses from 20,128 people who are either the beneficiary of the BSKY scheme or those who have been left out for some reason.

Its findings reveal that only 13.8% (2,787) of the BSKY card holders have received health services. Of the 20,128 respondents, who participated in the survey, 9.5%(1907) said that their cards are still lying at the Gram Panchayat (GP) office.
About 7% (1,401) respondents said that they do not have any information on where to go to receive the card and who will issue the card to them. And, 3.5% (710) respondents alleged that local authorities forced them to pay a bribe to get the BSKY card.
Respondents highlighted several reasons for lack of access to health services under the BSKY scheme, such as the lack of awareness, lack of timely service, hospitals not extending services, not having time to take the opportunity, and not knowing how to use it.
The report reveals that of the families which have BSKY cards, 24.2% are facing issues in availing of the services.
It says, 33.3% of the respondents said that they are not able to avail benefits under the scheme on time, whereas 11.4% complained that hospitals are not extending services even though they have a health card.
While 17.8% of respondents informed that they do not have time to avail the services due to many reasons, 37.5% of them admitted that they do not have proper information and awareness on how to use services under the scheme.
"BSKY scheme is a bold initiative as it caters to the healthcare needs of the economically vulnerable families of the state, which is praiseworthy. However, looking at the findings of the study report, the inclusion of many families in the scheme and awareness among communities of the scheme's benefits and service details will prove crucial in its effective implementation", said Ruchi Kashyap, executive trustee, Atmashakti Trust.
She insisted, "The government must focus on health infrastructure to cater to the healthcare needs of the people at the last mile."

Seeking effective implementation of the BSKY, the study report recommends that the benefit of the smart card under the BSKY scheme should be extended to the doctor's consultancy fee and medicine cost pre- and post-treatment period.
It adds, lack of awareness of the scheme's benefits and use limits the scope of service accessibility for beneficiaries. So, the government should make extensive awareness drives through materials using local languages.
According to the study report, a one-size-fit-all budgeting will not work so far as the budget for raising awareness is concerned. Therefore, a need-specific budget allocation will be helpful, especially for remote areas and the areas with hilly terrain.
In insisted, the state government should conduct a special drive on distributing the smart health cards to include left-out eligible families, adding, the government should make extensive awareness drives in local languages. It can use the cultural troupes registered with the government at block and district levels. Their artistes are paid pension.

Comments

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Concentration of wealth in India at levels 'comparable to colonial times', says new report

By Jag Jivan A new report published in March 2026 by the Centre for Financial Accountability and the Tax The Top campaign paints a stark picture of deepening economic disparity in India, documenting a concentration of wealth that it argues is “comparable to colonial times.” Titled Wealth Tracker India | Tax the Top. Close the Gap , the compilation presents data from the World Inequality Database and the Hurun Rich List to illustrate the meteoric rise of the ultra-wealthy alongside the stagnation and debt burdens of the majority.

Protesters in UK cities voice concerns over alleged developments in Bastar region

By A Representative Demonstrations were held across several cities in the United Kingdom on March 28, as groups and activists gathered to protest what they described as state actions in India under the reported “Operation Kagar.”

Beneath the stone: Revisiting the New Jersey mandir controversy

By Rajiv Shah A recent report published in the British media outlet The Guardian , titled “Workers carved the largest modern Hindu temple in the west. Now, some have incurable lung disease,” took me back to my visits to the New Jersey mandir —first in 2022, when it was still under construction, though parts of it were open to visitors, and again in 2024, after its completion.

Search This Blog