Suparjya swain 
Bhubaneswar: The launch of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana marks a historic milestone for Odisha. This initiative was inaugurated in Cuttack by Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, with the presence of Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi. The event brought together Union and State dignitaries to celebrate the extension of India’s largest health assurance scheme to Odisha.
Union Health Minister Nadda emphasized that Ayushman Bharat is more than just an insurance program; it is a comprehensive healthcare assurance scheme that has benefited over 8.9 crore people nationwide. He acknowledged the swift implementation by the Odisha government and praised Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling for launching the scheme within 10 months of coming to power. Highlighting Odisha’s progress in TB eradication, he called on MLAs to ensure maximum outreach and awareness.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reiterating that quality healthcare is foundational to economic and social progress. He noted that for almost six years, political barriers kept this life-changing scheme away from Odisha. With its launch, 1.03 crore families—around 3.46 crore people—will now benefit from free healthcare services of up to ₹5 lakh annually at over 29,000 empaneled hospitals nationwide. Women members of families will receive an additional ₹5 lakh annually, and senior citizens aged 70 and above will benefit from the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana. More than 3.52 crore people are expected to be covered by both schemes.
The Chief Minister also assured seamless access to healthcare for beneficiaries living outside Odisha and emphasized that individual health cards will be issued to every family member. The central government will provide 60% funding for the scheme, while the state contributes the remaining 40%. Majhi also announced that the government would not let financial constraints affect healthcare delivery.
In terms of infrastructure, the state has sanctioned ₹3,881 crore for health projects under the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Mission and ₹420 crore for Ama Hospitals. Plans are underway to establish new medical colleges in Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Nabarangpur, and Dhenkanal. In the past year, 4,000 doctors and health workers have been recruited, and the hiring of 5,374 more doctors and dentists is in progress.
The Chief Minister inaugurated a new seven-storey building at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (Shishu Bhawan) in Cuttack, expanding its capacity to 846 beds, including 140 ICU beds. A hostel for 180 resident doctors was also opened, along with a new microbiology lab at the State Medical Corporation in Bhubaneswar.
Reflecting on the government’s work over the past 10 months, CM Majhi highlighted initiatives like the Subhadra Yojana, an extra ₹800 for paddy procurement, a ₹500 crore fund for Jagannath Temple management, and the opening of all four temple gates. He also cited new programs such as Godabarish Adarsh Vidyalaya, Madho Singh Haathkharcha Yojana, Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana, Shri Jagannath Darshan Yojana, Mukhyamantri Poshan Yojana, and Antodaya Gruha Yojana.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram noted that the Ayushman Bharat scheme would greatly support Odisha’s tribal populations. State Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling said residents can now access healthcare from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. MPs Bhartruhari Mahtab, Baijayant Panda, and Bibhuprasad Tarai emphasized the scheme’s far-reaching benefits for the people of Odisha.
Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo and Pravati Parida, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Health Secretary Ashwathi S, and various ministers, MPs, and MLAs also participated in the event—some in person and others virtually—marking the dawn of a healthier, more inclusive Odisha.
