Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna Extended to Auto/Taxi Drivers

       

                                          
                                                      Shri Oscar Fernandes Gives away Rsby Smart Cards to Drivers

Shri Oscar Fernandes, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways gave away smart cards under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) to auto/taxi drivers in Faridabad today (27.02.2014). Speaking on the occasion Shri Oscar Fernandes said that the scheme will address the health concerns of auto rickshaw drivers and taxi drivers which form an important and vulnerable segment of the unorganized workers in urban areas. 

The nodal officer from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for the scheme has been nominated. Nodal officers from States of Karnataka, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and West Bengal sand District Nodal Officer in each of the district in State with their name and contact details are also being notified for the purpose of implementation of the scheme. 

The auto rickshaw drivers and taxi drivers form an important segment of the unorganized workers in urban areas. The auto rickshaw drivers and taxi drivers are registered presently by the State Transport Authorities. In order to enroll the auto / taxi drivers under RSBY, States have been requested to identify such auto rickshaw drivers / taxi drivers and prepare their data in the format under RSBY. Owner driven rickshaw and auto drivers are also proposed to be covered under this scheme. Under the scheme, auto/taxi drivers have to contribute 50% of premium for the RSBY, as applicable in that district, in addition to Rs. 30/- as registration fee. Remaining 50% of premium would be shared by the Central and State Government i.e. 25% each. 

Ministry of Labour and Employment is going to commence shortly enrolment and issuance of smart cards to the beneficiary families under the RSBY in Karnataka, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and West Bengal shortly. The State Transport Authorities have been directed to facilitate the enrolment of maximum number of auto rickshaw drivers and taxi drivers with the State Nodal Agencies. 

A health insurance scheme, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is being implemented by Ministry of Labour & Employment since 01.10.2007, providing for smart card based cashless health insurance cover of Rs. 30000/- per family per annum on a family floater basis to BPL families in the undersigned sector. RSBY coverage has now been extended to auto / taxi drivers in addition to various other categories of unorganized workers.