Tripura government has been advised by Prime Minister to form a trust for providing health insurance of Rs 5 lakh to the weaker sections of the society under Ayushman Bharat scheme where Centre will provide 90 per cent grant to the state.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb today said Tripura government has targeted to bring about 71 per cent of families count 5.20 lakh households under the scheme. Premium towards the health insurance worth 5 lakhs will be paid the state government, he added.

“While bigger states are proceeding with insurance companies, smaller states like Tripura are advised to form trust under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to implement the scheme. In case of insurance companies the settlement of claims will take longer time but in our model the money will be disbursed maximum within two weeks,” Deb claimed.

The formation of trust is already at advanced stage and central government is ready with the fund. He also stated that in last four months most of the people who came to him sought medical assistance because healthcare system in Tripura has not developed in last 25 years despite huge support from the Centre. The government is trying hard to implement Ayushman Bharat scheme efficiently in the state, he said.

“Similarly, under Krishi Vikash Yojana we are setting up Krishak Bandhu Kendra at block level in phased manner and providing soil health card to the farmers to know the status of their agricultural land so that the use of fertilizer will be minimum and production process will be more scientific,” he stated.

He also stated that Tripura government has already identified 21,500 hectares of agricultural land which falls in high risk zone and the state government is paying the premium of crop insurance of those lands under Prime Minister’s Fasal Bima Yojana. Such farmlands are also being covered under irrigation facilities.

Referring to the success of his government Deb said in last three months 1.6 lakh women were provided LPG connection under Ujjwala Yojana, 10 per cent posts in all ranks of police have been reserved for the women and now reservation for women in teachers’ recruitment was being considered too.