Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on his visit to Balangir district on Wednesday inaugurated distribution of Smart Health Cards under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) by awarding a card to one Sarojini Bahidar in Titilagarh as the first beneficiary of the district. As many as 4.5 lakh families in the district would get the benefits of the scheme. During his visit to Titilagarh, Patnagarh and Balangir towns, the CM inaugurated development projects worth Rs 200 crore and laid foundation-stones for projects worth Rs 597 crore. He also laid foundation for development of Sri Hraishankar Peeth in Patnagarh. Patnaik said the provision of smart health cards could transform the healthcare system of the general public. "It's a milestone in the country's health care system,” He said that the BSKY has been implemented in a new way and all the beneficiaries of the national and State food security schemes are being given smart cards. Odisha is the only state in the country to make such a provision.
As many as 96 lakh families across Odisha are getting the benefit. With this card alone, people can get free quality healthcare at 200 major hospitals in the country for up to Rs 5 lakh a year per family and up to Rs 10 lakh for a woman. At Titilagarh, he launched a number of new projects, including the completed water pipeline project in Titilagarh-Saintala block and laid foundation of the piped water project for all houses in Titilagarh town.In Balangir town, the CM said his Government would provide all possible assistance to the Rajendra University to make it a model university. He also inaugurated a new bus terminal at the town built at a cost of around Rs nine crore.Police said 34 Congress activists were detained in Patnagarh, Titiliagrh and Saintala for protesting the CM’s visit.