Uttarakhand

• 26 Apr 2023

Ayushman Card will now get Free Treatment in Army and Paramilitary Hospitals

Why in News?

On 25 April 2023, Uttarakhand Health Authority Chairman D.K. Kotia said that the central government has listed 21 military and paramilitary hospitals operating in different districts of the state under the Ayushman scheme, under which Ayushman card-holders will now be given military and free treatment facilities will be available in Paramilitary Force hospitals.

Key Points

• It is known that till now the working soldiers, their dependents and ex-servicemen get treatment facilities in these hospitals.
• The central government has included these hospitals in the scheme to provide free treatment facilities to the common people on the Ayushman card.
• 7th Corps ITBP Marathi in Pithoragarh, Unit Hospital 14th Battalion ITBP, Unit Hospital 1st Battalion ITBP in Chamoli, Unit Hospital CTC SSB Sapri, MIC Auli, SSB Hospital Gwaldam, 8th Battalion ITBP Hospital Gauchar, 34th Battalion ITBP Halduchod in Nainital, Group Center CRPF Kathgodam, 34th Battalion ITBP Unit Hospital, ESIC Hospital Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar district, Unit Hospital in Pauri, SSB Srinagar, ITBP Hospital in Dehradun have been listed.
• Apart from these, 5th Battalion SSB in Champawat, 36th Battalion ITBP Champawat, ITBP Hospital 35 Corps in Uttarkashi, 12th Battalion ITBP Unit Hospital, BHEL Hospital in Haridwar, 57th Battalion SSB Sitarganj in Udham Singh Nagar, ITBP Academic Hospital Mussoorie in Dehradun, Unit Hospital in Pithoragarh has been listed.
• It is worth mentioning that 50.40 lakh cards have been made under the Ayushman Yojana in the state. There is a facility of free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh on the Ayushman card. So far 7.36 lakh patients have got treatment facilities. In this, the government has spent an amount of 1352 crores.

Inauguration of SDRF Headquarters and Training Center in Jolly Grant

Why in News?

On 24 April 2023, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the SDRF Headquarters and Training Center at Jolly Grant, Dehradun and made several other important announcements during this period.

Key Points

• With the setting up of the SDRF headquarters, relief and rescue operations will be expedited during natural calamities and various accidents in the state. SDRFs of other states will also be given training here.
• With the formation of SDRF, Char Dham Yatra and tourism activities have been secured. SDRF has so far carried out more than 3,000 rescues, 12,000 injured and 2,000 dead bodies. By giving training to 35 thousand trainees of various institutions, 2.5 lakh people have been made aware of disaster relief works.
• State DGP Ashok Kumar said that the first phase of the SDRF headquarters being built in three phases has been completed. In the second phase, the training centre is under construction at a cost of Rs 36 crore.
• Under the World Bank-funded project, the headquarters and training centre of SDRF has been built near the airport at Jolly Grant at a cost of Rs 144 crore.
• The first phase has facilities for reception, office, training block and library, a three-storey training block, demo room, course coordinator, computer lab, lecture room, and library in the first phase.
• There is an electronic charging station, garage and parking for more than a dozen vehicles. There is a canteen facility, fire fighting system, solar system, fencing, watch tower, and residential colony for the police and their families. There is also a petrol pump which will also be useful for the common people.
• The Chief Minister made these announcements-
  • Risk Allowance: Gazetted officers of SDRF, who conduct rescue operations at a height of 11 thousand feet or more, will get a risk allowance of Rs 1500 and non-gazetted officers & jawans will get a risk allowance of Rs 1000. It will be payable on the lines of paramilitary forces. Presently 12 SDRF officers and jawans are deployed in Kedarnath Dham. Apart from this, from time to time, one has to go to higher Himalayan regions for rescue operations.
  • Sixth Company: Now there will be six companies in SDRF. The new company will be formed soon. One-third of the women employees will be appointed in this.
  • Deputation Period: The time period of deputation in SDRF will be increased from seven years to 10 years.