The Punjab Cabinet on Thursday approved a slew of measures for protecting the people of Punjab from fraudulent financing companies and also to make the State’s insurance schemes more beneficial.
Besides approving Cashless Health Insurance Scheme benefitting over 6.50 lakh employees, the Cabinet also gave its nod to expand the base of Bhagat Puran Singh Beema Yojana by covering 28.05 lakh blue card holder families. Also, the Cabinet approved tabling of a Bill to protect the people from frauds by the financial establishments.
In a significant decision benefitting over 6.50 lakh employees and pensioners of the State Government, the Punjab Cabinet on Thursday gave nod for implementing Cashless Health Insurance Scheme in lieu of existing policy of reimbursement of medical expenses to them.
The scheme would entail an annual financial liability of Rs107 crore on the State exchequer.
“The facility of cashless treatment would be provided to Government employees or pensioners and their dependents in more than 250 empanelled public and private hospitals in Punjab, Chandigarh and the National Capital Region of Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida,” said the Government spokesperson.
He said that under this scheme, all the benefits would be granted to the employees as per Service Rules (Medical Attendance Rules, 1940).
The expenses on treatment, if taken in the remaining parts of the country, would be reimbursed to the employees by the insurance company within 15 days of submission of medical claim.
As per the scheme, the expenditure on treatment of patient admitted in hospital and 246 kinds of “day care” procedure, in which treatment was provided in less than 24 hours, and treatment of chronic diseases in OPD would be provided to patient without spending any money.
OPD expenses other than those related to chronic diseases would continue to be met through fixed medical allowance.
The scheme would cover pre and post hospitalisation benefits up to seven days and 30 days respectively, which were not available under the prevailing rules.
“Though the insurance company cover was Rs three lakh per family, the scheme would cover a family for an unlimited amount. Though the scheme would be made compulsory to employees and pensioners, it would be optional for All India Service Officers, serving and ex-MlAs, serving and ex-Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court,” said the spokesperson.
This scheme was initially for one-year and could be extended for another year with the mutual consent of government and insurance company.
28.05 lAKH BlUE CARD HOlDER FAMIlIES TO BE COVERED UNDER BHAGAT PURAN BEEMA YOJNA
To widen the ambit of Bhagat Puran Singh Beema Yojna, the Cabinet has given approval to cover 28.05 lakh blue card holder families under the scheme.
All the eligible families under this scheme would be entitled for free treatment worth Rs 30,000 annually in 214 government and 177 registered private hospitals.
As many as 17 lakh eligible families under this scheme would be registered from October 1, 2015, in the first phase and remaining 11 lakh families would be registered from November 1, 2015.
The registered families under the scheme from October 1 would be entitled for treatment from November 1 and the families registered from November 1 could avail the free treatment facility from December 1.
A 24X7 free helpline service with 104 Number has been started to provide all relevant information or lodging any sort of complaint related to delay in treatment under this scheme.
PUNJAB PROTECTION OF INTERESTS OF DEPOSITORS (IN FINANCIAl ESTABlISHMENTS) BIll, 2015, APPROVED
With a view to safeguard general public’s interests against frauds by the Financial Establishments, the Cabinet also okayed the introduction of the Punjab Protection of Interests of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Bills, 2015.
Spokesperson said, with the mushrooming growth of the financial establishments in the state, it has been noticed that these establishments were openly duping the innocent investors through public deposit schemes, particularly from middle and poorer sections of the society, by making impracticable or financially unviable promises or by offering highly attractive rates of interests or rewards, with the malafide intention of not fulfilling the obligation of refunding the deposits on maturity to the investors at the time of deposits.
APPROVES RESTRUCTURING OF ETTSA TO MAXIMISE TAX COllECTION
To enable the state Excise and Taxation department to maximise collection of taxes and duties besides providing prompt and hassle-free services to the tax payers, the Cabinet gave its green signal for restructuring of Excise and Taxation Technical Services Agency (ETTSA) by amending rule 12.1 of the Rules and Regulations of ETTSA.
“This would also help in expediting successful computerisation of the department for taking it into mission mode,” said the spokesperson.
APPROVES AMENDING PUNJAB GAU SEWA COMMISSION BIll, 2015
To ensure effective functioning of Punjab Gau Sewa Commission for protection and proper care of cattle in the state, Punjab Cabinet gave its concurrence to amend “The Punjab Gau Sewa Commission Bill, 2015” for appointing a vice-chairperson in the Board. Besides, the amendment would also pave way to increase strength of its non-official members from existing seven to 10 by presenting it in the ensuing session of Vidhan Sabha for its conversion into Act.
PAVES WAY FOR APPOINTING REGUlAR MINISTERIAl STAFF IN PSHRC
To bring far more efficiency in the working of Punjab State Human Rights Commission, the Cabinet gave nod for drafting Punjab State Human Rights Commission (Group A, B and C) Rules 2015, for ensuring regular recruitment of ministerial staff in the Commission.
“The regular recruitment would be made by the Commission as per prescribed qualification, which would open avenues of promotions for the staff as now the employees are working either on contract basis or through outsourcing,” said the spoksperson.