The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘6.5 cr. poor under RACHIS shortly’

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Saturday, Dec 08, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘6.5 cr. poor under RACHIS shortly’

Staff Reporter

I too didn’t imagine such a scheme a year ago, says Chief Minister

Doctor in action: Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy checking heartbeat of a girl at ‘Rajiv Aarogya Sri’ launch at Aler in Nalgonda district on Friday

ALER (NALGONDA DT.): Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday affirmed that every paise in the exchequer would be spent on health and welfare of the poor and downtrodden in the State.

“Ours is a welfare State and pro-poor State. The Opposition may resort to mud-slinging, but we are committed to the welfare of poor, downtrodden and weaker sections,” he said after formally launching the ambitious Rajiv Aarogya Sri Community Health Insurance Scheme (RACHIS) here on Friday.

Dr. Reddy, who arrived here more than two hours behind schedule reportedly due to a technical snag in his chopper, went around the mega health camp in an open top jeep.

About 10,000 white card-holders underwent medical tests and saw experts in 60 stalls opened by corporate hospitals and healthcare centres, according to Collector M. Purushottam Reddy. The Chief Minister too donned the role of a doctor and checked the heartbeat of a couple of children with a stethoscope on the dais.

Reiterating that the “Rajiv Aarogya Sri” would be made available to 6.5 crore poor by October, 2008, the Chief Minister said: “We don’t hesitate to spend huge amount on your health. Mee aarogyame maaku mahaa bhagyam (your heath is our wealth).” Elaborating the reasons that promoted him to devise the “Rajiv Aarogya Sri”, he said that nobody in the country could imagine such a fine scheme that would come to the rescue of the poor, who either borrowed money for treatment or suffered the bereavement of their family members in silence. “I too didn’t imagine such a scheme a year ago. Now the poor too can have treatment in corporate and private hospitals,” he maintained. He further assured the people of Aler of supplying Godavari water as early as possible.

Minister for Medical Education and Health Insurance Galla Aruna Kumari requested the Opposition parties against launching false propaganda against the scheme. “Let’s settle our scores at the time of elections. Don’t resort to mud-slinging. Instead encourage the poor to avail the unprecedented scheme,” she said.Ministers- K. Jana Reddy and R.Damodar Reddy, Nalgonda MP S. Sudhakar Reddy, MLAs- K.Venkat Reddy and K.Nagesh and ZP chairperson K. Narayana Reddy also spoke at the meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Telangana Planning and Development Board Vuppunutala Purushottam Reddy. The Chief Minister, who was to attend a couple of inaugurations and foundation stone laying functions at Yadagirigutta, cancelled them due to the delay caused by the problem with the helicopter.

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