K’taka CM writes to PM, demands due credit for joint health insurance scheme

The information material of the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka scheme only carried photographs of the Prime Minister.
K’taka CM writes to PM, demands due credit for joint health insurance scheme
K’taka CM writes to PM, demands due credit for joint health insurance scheme
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In another rift between the state and Centre, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy objected to the Centre not giving due credit to the state in the information material of the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka scheme, a joint health insurance scheme.

CM Kumaraswamy shot off a letter to PM Narendra on this regard on Friday. He said that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the State and the National Health Authority (NHA) stated that all information, education and communication material, including advertisements, should carry photos of political functionaries of both the state and Centre.

“Despite the MoU, these letters carry photographs of only the Prime Minister. Further, the State government was not consulted while sending these letters... it is requested that in future, advertisements, promotions and communication to beneficiaries be released only after due consultation with the State. If photographs are to be used, photographs of State functionaries should also be posted along with those of the Centre, as agreed upon in the MoU,” the letter stated.

The letter also emphasised that a majority of the cost of the scheme was being borne by the state.

“From its inception on October 30 till date, under the AB-ArK scheme, Karnataka has borne Rs 139 crore of the total expenditure of Rs 161 crore. The Centre’s contribution is a mere Rs 22 crore,” the letter said.

“Now, it has come to our knowledge that the Prime Minister has addressed letters to beneficiaries of the scheme, along with dummy health cards containing details of the family members eligible under the Centre’s component of the scheme. This has created a lot of confusion on the field,” the letter added.

This is in a series of events between the PM and Kumaraswamy. In December 2018, while addressing a rally, Modi called the state loan waiver “one of the most cruel jokes on farmers”. In retaliation, Kumaraswamy called it “factually incorrect, insensitive and very unfortunate”.

 
 

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