Congress President Sonia Gandhi today reaffirmed her party-led UPA Government's commitment towards welfare of the 'aam aadmi' (common man).
She was speaking here after launching a health insurance scheme for poor families in Maharashtra.
Gandhi said the UPA government was committed to provide better healthcare facilities to the common man, particularly the poor, rural women and children.
On this occasion, the UPA Chairperson launched Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana (RGJAY), a state government scheme which seeks to provide free quality critical care for low-income families.
The Congress-led Democratic Front (DF) Government was doing a yeoman service for people, who will greatly benefit from the health plan, she said.
Gandhi lauded the government for extending the project, which was launched on a pilot basis last year in eight districts, to the remaining 27 districts.
The Congress President explained the main features of the scheme, which will provide coverage of up to Rs 1.5 lakh for 971 health-related procedures and 121 follow-up processes.
Under the plan, the poor families will not only get free treatment including surgery, post-medical care and medicines, but the patients will get paid for return journey to their respective native places from hospitals, said Gandhi, who is also Chairperson of National Advisory Council.
Gandhi also expressed concern over the health of women, particularly in rural areas who, she said, have a tendency of hiding their ailments just to ensure their spouses do not face monetary burden of medical bills.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Union Minister and NCP leader Praful Patel, MPCC President Manikrao Thakre and State Health Minister Suresh Shetty were also present at the rally.
The UPA Chairperson also interacted with 78 select patient-beneficiaries of the scheme at the venue.
A total of 2.11 crore families are eligible to be covered under the scheme.
