Minister for Health and Women and Child Development Vishwajit Rane while addressing a gathering at Alto Pilerne. Photo by Anil Shankhwalker
THE GOAN NETWORK
PORVORIM
Minister for Health and Women and Child Development Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday said the State government has proposed to launch new scheme ‘State Cares’, under which physiotherapy and caretaker services to needy people.
He was speaking interacting with Gruha Aadhaar beneficiaries at an ‘Angan Ki Seva’ programme organised by the Department of Women and Child Development at Alto Pilerne.
Those present at the programme were Saligao MLA Kedar Naik, Director of Women and Child Development Jyoti Dessai, President of North Goa Zilla Panchayat Reshma Bandodkar, Sangolda Sarpanch Jalisha Tulaskar, Reis Magos Sarpanch Sushmita Pednekar, Pillerne-Marra Panchayat Saijal Bandodkar and panch members.
Rane stated that free doorstep physiotherapy services would be provided to those senior citizens who are unable to visit the health centres.
He stated that senior citizens patients admitted in hospitals face a problem of caretakers and have to pay for caretaker services ranging between Rs 500 and Rs 1000.
“Poor senior citizens are unable to pay these charges to avail of caretakers. Hence, the State government has decided to provide caretaker services free of cost to senior citizens patients,” said Rane.
Stating that there are about 6,000 beneficiaries of Gruha Aadhaar in Saligao constituency, the minister said the State government is planning how to increase this number to 10,000 beneficiaries.
“Some beneficiaries have voiced that the Gruha Aadhaar amount be increased by at least Rs 500. The government has taken note of this suggestion. The government is already incurring the cost of Rs 130-140 crore to pay to Gruha Aadhaar beneficiaries. To increase the amount further, the government will have to make budgetary provisions,” he said.
Rane stated that the State government is offering free medicines to cancer and heart patients.
“The government has even offered a pacemaker costing Rs 8 lath to heart patients free of cost,” said Rane.
Saligao MLA Kedar Naik said the main objective behind introducing schemes like Gruha Aadhaar, Laadli Laxmi, etc. by the State government is to empower women
“These schemes should reach each and every household and it becomes the duty of panch members to ensure that all government schemes reaches the needy people,” said Naik.
