A spokesman of the State Government said that Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) was being extended to MGNREGA Workers, Street Vendors, domestic workers, building and other construction workers and persons with more than 70% disability through insurance company. He said that the existing 235131 BPL smart card holders would continue to get benefit of basic package of Rs. 30,000 and existing BPL smart card holders would also continue to have the cashless benefit under Critical Care of Rs. 1,75,000. He added that there was no gap in providing the facilities under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna to existing smart card holders.

He said that the process for issuing new smart cards to the existing smart card holders and remaining eligible families including the above referred categories had been started from 5th July, 2012 and would continue till 31st October, 2012 and would be eligible to have the benefit of scheme on new smart cards for the policy period starting from 1st November, 2012 to 31st October, 2013.

He appealed to all the existing smart card holders to avail benefits of the scheme from the empanelled hospitals and urged the eligible families to get their smart card prepared. He said that strict action would be taken against all empanelled hospitals including Government ones in case it was found that benefits under the scheme was not given to the seekers.