With the intention to boost its populist schemes, the BJP Government in Chhattisgarh has now decided to offer up health insurance coverage free of cost and cashless treatment facility to 36 lakh families.

Under the proposed scheme, the government will provide annual health insurance coverage of Rs 30,000 to 3.5 million poverty hit families in the state.

During the first phase, the plan would be implemented in 6 districts, which covers nearly 11 lakh families of Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon and Bilaspur districts besides two worst-poverty hit districts of Bastar and Surguja.

The remaining 25 lakh families in 12 regions will also be covered in a phased manner.

An official representative, on Tuesday, stated that the families being covered under the plan would be entitled to get advanced treatment facilities available at selected government as well as private hospitals.

Chief Minister Raman Singh has instructed the health department functionaries to initiate cashless treatment facility under the proposed scheme.

The families to be covered under the plan will get ‘smart cards’ so that they can avail treatment facilities from designated hospitals without paying a single rupee.

The health insurance cover to poor families would be run under the National Health Insurance scheme.