As per official sources, individuals holding BPL cards in the state of Orissa would be covered under Rastriya Swasthya Bima Yojana from the coming fiscal.

Orissa's Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made this declaration during a high level meeting.

The minister stated, "The BPL families to be covered under the health insurance scheme will pay only Rs 30 per annum in order to get benefits."

The state administration has also made plans to launch the health insurance plan in all the regions after applying it in six chosen regions on pilot basis.

But, it was seen from the pilot project that the insurance company made big profit of Rs 12 crore within a year as insured people failed to cash in the facility.

Labour and employment minister Pushpendra Singhdeo made this declaration.

Stating that lack of knowledge among BPL families only aided the insurance firm, Mr. Pushpendra said that four insurance companies had shown curiosity to cover up poor families in Orrisa.

As it was discovered that the beneficiaries were not offered with insurance cards by the insurers under the pilot project, the minister proposed that the panchayat extention officers (PEO) would hereafter be given task of helping people to enjoy benefits.

A family of five members could avail help worth Rs 30,000 annually as health expenditures, Mr. Pushpendra said adding a toll free phone (number-155335) would be set up for helping people in getting benefit.

The administration would spend around Rs 408 as premium money for each and every family. While the state government would cover the 25% cost of the premium amount, the central administration had to give the remaining money.