Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051208240500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Scope of Yeshaswini scheme expanded

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Government has expanded the scope of the Yeshaswini Health Insurance scheme, which was limited to major surgeries, and extended the last date for enrolment under the scheme to May 20.

Principal Secretary for Cooperation C.S. Kedar, who is the Chairman of the Yeshaswini Cooperative Farmers' Health Care Trust, announced here on Thursday that the medical aid under the scheme would now cover accidental deaths and medical problems faced by farmers in their daily life. It would now cover snakebite, dog bite, drowning, electric shock, goring by bulls, injuries caused while operating agricultural equipment, etc.

Benefit under the scheme would be available to women for ensuring normal delivery and for neonatal care.

The definition of the family has been expanded to include dependent father, mother, mother-in-law, father-in-law and all dependent children. The scheme will cover all members of cooperative societies in rural areas, Stree Shakti groups and self-help groups who are linked to cooperative societies and cooperative banks.

Dr. Kedar said 16 lakh members of cooperatives in rural areas, Stree Shakti groups and self-help groups had been enrolled under the scheme.