The West Bengal cabinet on Wednesday passed a proposal to launch a health insurance scheme for state government-accredited journalists, including those who have retired.
The journalists can avail of the scheme -- christened "Mabhoi" -- till the age of 65, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced after the cabinet meeting.
The scheme would be extended to all family members of the insured journalists who can take admission in state government hospitals and health centres, and hospitals accredited under the West Bengal Health Scheme.
The cabinet also approved a health insurance scheme called Swasthya Sathi for civic police volunteers, green police volunteers, civil defence volunteers, disaster management workers, ASHA social health workers, self-help groups, national volunteers, Home Guards, ICDS workers, and contractual and casual workers.
The total number of beneficiaries for Swasthya Sathi would be about 80 lakh.
This group insurance scheme, costing the government Rs.1,000 crore, would provide a coverage of Rs.1.5 lakh to Rs.5 lakh, without any cap on family size.
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The full premium would be paid by the state government.
Both Mabhoi and Swasthya Sathi schemes would run from April 1.