Arogyasri lifts Congress spirit

Hyderabad, April 5: During the US presidential polls, one issue that was discussed a lot was the health care scheme. Now, health care schemes have become a major campaigning issue for the political parties in the state too.

The Congress hopes to win people’s hearts with Rajiv Arogyasri scheme that ensures free medical facilities and surgeries to the poor people who possess white ration cards.
Congress candidates say the scheme is a shot in the arm. Some have organised vehicles to campaign about the Arogyasri scheme and benefits of the 108 ambulance services.
Other parties refrain from availing 108 services fearing that the Congress may gain if they use it.
Sources said Junior NTR had objected to calling a 108 ambulance when he met with an accident Mothey in Nalgonda district.
The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, has instructed party candidates to highlight the benefits of Arogyasri. “Earlier, poor people who had chronic diseases used to die because they could not afford treatment. Now they can get corporate medical facilities for free through Arogyasri,” said Dr Reddy on Sunday while addressing a public meeting in Khammam. Other parties are forced to announce that they are not against the scheme. However, the Telugu Desam has announced NTR Samagra Arogya Padhakam on the lines of Arogyasri: the scheme will cover more diseases.
The PR president, Chiranjeevi, said his party was not against Arogyasri and added, “We will extend the scheme to other sections of the society too.”