Government employees push for inclusion in Odisha’s healthcare scheme, citing systemic inequity.
The Odisha Government Combined Employees’ Association has voiced strong dissatisfaction over excluding government employees from the state’s Cashless Health Card scheme.
While the convergence of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana promises Rs. 5 lakh per family annually—plus an additional Rs. 5 lakh for women—Odisha government employees remain noticeably absent from its beneficiaries.
The Association, led by convenor Mr. Bijay Malla, held a press conference calling upon key state officials, including Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, to address this long-standing demand.
With over 3.5 lakh people in Odisha already covered under this scheme and 29,000 hospitals nationwide participating, the Association expressed disappointment at the lack of consideration for its members.
Prominent figures across government departments—Mr. Prabhat Mohanty, Mr Aswini Das, and Mr Pradeep Pradhan, among others—joined the call for immediate action, warning that failure to implement the scheme for government employees could lead to mass protests.
