SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED

The health insurance scheme for unorganised workers launched by the Government of India holds the potential to effect a socio-economic change of far reaching significance. The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), launched formally last year, will provide coverage for the families of the unorganised sector workers below the poverty line. What distinguishes this from other social schemes is the application of user-friendly information technology. The scheme provides cashle ss health insurance cover up to Rs.30,000 for all the eligible families. The smart card, which provides for the cashless transactions, and can be used anywhere in the country, has the potential to open the doors of healthcare facilities to millions of the poor. It also offers a choice between public and private healthcare. The RSBY aims to cover an estimated six crore BPL families, at one lakh per district, over the next five years. The programme, which covers costs of hospitalisation for a range of illnesses, is bound to change the lives of poor workers who are outside the ambit of even minimal social protection by bridging gaps in access to healthcare facilities. Seen in the larger context of high out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare in India and the low incomes of the unorganised sector workers, the use of technology presages major changes in how India addresses social security.