All 44,08,070 beneficiaries of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) would be included in the Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana (BKKY) and would get earlier free health services up to Rs 1 lakh and benefits provided under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), said an official release on Sunday.

The State Government took this decision as the period of the Central program RSBY will come to an end on Monday. Chief Secretary held talks with all district Collectors through a videoconferencing at the State Secretariat here on Saturday.  Health and Family Welfare Secretary Dr Pramod Kumar Meherda and National Health Mission Director Shalini Pandit were present.

According to the decision, RSBY beneficiaries would receive new BKKY (Stream-2) cards from their nearest Kiosks. The district Collectors were asked to make all arrangements for distribution of cards and to ensure that all beneficiaries are not deprived of any benefit given under the BKKY scheme. Collectors were asked to create massive awareness through ASHA and Anganwadi workers and Gaon Kalyan Samiti members.

As per the new guidelines of the Odisha State Treatment Fund (OSTF), all poor people of the State would be provided free treatment. Others who are getting benefits under the BKKY include Antodaya cardholders and people having annual income below Rs 50,000 in rural areas and Rs 60,000 in urban areas.

The release said people having annual income below Rs 3 lakh can get OSTF support for heart, kidney and cancer diseases. Anybody can dial toll-free 155369 to know more information about it.

The Biju Kalyan Swasthya Yojana, which was launched in the State on August 25, has covered over 3.5 crore people belonging to over 70 lakh families, enrolled in BKKY and RSBY schemes. According to the scheme, beneficiaries are being provided free treatment upto Rs 5 lakh and women upto Rs 7 lakh per annum.