UP govt approves cashless health scheme for 15 lakh education staff

The Uttar Pradesh government has provided significant relief to lakhs of employees associated with the education sector by providing them with cashless health facilities.

In a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, it was decided that teachers, non-teaching staff, and their dependent families associated with the state’s Secondary and Basic Education Departments will now be able to avail cashless treatment in private hospitals in addition to government hospitals.

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The Chief Minister had announced this on Teachers’ Day last year, and the cabinet has now given its approval. Approximately 15 lakh teachers and non-teaching staff associated with basic and secondary education will benefit from this.

The total expenditure on this will be approximately Rs. 448 crore.

State Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna informed the press about the cabinet decisions. He said that a total of 32 proposals were presented in the meeting, of which 30 were approved by the cabinet.

Under this decision, teachers working in aided schools under the Secondary Education Department (including subject experts of vocational education and honorary teachers), teachers working in aided schools recognized by the Sanskrit Education Council (including honorary teachers), teachers working in self-financed schools recognized by the Secondary Education Council and Sanskrit Education Council, and subject experts of vocational education working on an honorarium basis in government and aided schools of the Secondary Education Department will receive cashless IPD (in-patient department) treatment facilities.

Their dependents will also be able to avail this facility. In a press conference, Secondary Education Minister Gulab Devi stated that more than 2.97 lakh people will benefit from this government initiative, with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 89.25 crore.

Similarly, teachers, Shiksha Mitras (para-teachers), special educators, instructors working in Basic Education Council schools and schools recognized by the Basic Education Council (aided and self-financed), wardens, full-time/part-time teachers in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, and cooks under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana, along with their dependents, will also benefit from this scheme.

State Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh stated at the press conference that more than 11.95 lakh teachers and staff of the Basic Education Council will benefit from this scheme. The government’s initiative is estimated to cost Rs. 358.61 crore annually, with an average annual premium of approximately Rs. 3000 per employee.

The cashless treatment facility will be available in government hospitals as well as private hospitals empanelled with the scheme. Treatment rates will be in accordance with the standards set by the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and the National Health Authority. Teachers of self-financed recognized schools will receive the benefits of the scheme after verification. Committees will be formed at the district level, headed by the District Inspector of Schools and the Basic Education Officer, for the verification process.

It was also clarified that those already covered under any other health scheme run by the central or state government, the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana, or the Chief Minister Jan Arogya Abhiyan, will not be eligible for this scheme.