Non-Implementation of Ayushman Bharat in West Bengal is a Crime Against the Marginalized 

“Ayushman Bharat” a flagship health-care initiative sponsored by the Govt of India, which provides health insurance to the economically marginalized families across the country, has not been implemented in West Bengal. The program which assures a sum of Rs 5 lakh/annum/family towards medical expenses has already benefited over a million people, and has been widely praised by the likes of Bill Gates. The only reason why West Bengal government has refused to implement Ayushman Bharat is because the current TMC regimen wants to change the name to something that will suit them, and help consolidate their vote bank. Their argument is that since the respective state governments have to bear 40% of the costs, they should have the right to name it whatever they want to. Like how they have done so with other schemes – PM Griha Yojana – Nijo Ghor Prokolpo, Swachh Bharat – Nirmal Bangal etc

However to deny the families that are suffering due to abysmal health care facilities in West Bengal, their right to health insurance, on such a flimsy ground is nothing less than a crime.

Here’s why

West Bengal is today, what late demographer Ashish Bose would have called a “Bimaru” state. A state with immense potential, but stifled by policy paralysis, stagnant growth and lack of employment opportunities, attributable to the inept and corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.

Writing for the Outlook Zia Haq had said in 2017, “West Bengal, though, offers reasons for despair. A rich, industrialised state in the 1960s, it has slid down the ranks, letting states like Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra take its place. One reason: de-industrialisation. Between 1998-1999 and 2004-2005, Bengal recorded a fall of 4 per cent in the number of people employed in the industrial sector.”

This chart by Outlook captures how, West Bengal, once a pioneering state in India, has today been relegated among its poorest. In 2014, West Bengal had a per capita income (measured as Net State Domestic Product and not as part of GDP) stood at Rs 38000.

Even if we attribute a highly unlikely 10% per capita income growth, compounded annually for the past 4 years, the average per capita income today comes to a measly Rs 55,635/-

It is estimated that in India, 70% of the total medical expense are borne by individuals from out of pocket expenses. This means, we are paying Rs 70 from our pockets for every Rs 100 we incur in medical expenses – diagnostics, medicine, patient transport etc. In the absence of a proper health insurance or government health-care initiatives, those from economically marginalized sections of the society feel the burden of crushing medical expenses, and on an average over 63 million people fall into poverty due to lack of financial protection for health care needs.

Now juxtapose this scenario in a poor and debt ridden state like West Bengal, where roughly 30% of the population or 3.5 crore people are listed as Below Poverty Line (BPL), and even those who are not only earn Rs 55000/year. Any serious illness could mean, the family’s savings could be wiped out entirely. To add to the collective woes, West Bengal has decreased health care expenses over the years.

Given the abysmal state of healthcare in West Bengal, the chances of a family being pushed to poverty raises substantially due to serious illness, which require expensive medical treatments.

In December of 2018, we had reported how an Adivasi father Pandit Oroan from a village Alipurduar had committed suicide after killing his 3-year-old child Abhiraj Oroan, as he didn’t have the funds to pay for a simple operation that would have taken care of Abhiraj’s birth defect. For some one who earns Rs 100 a day, even Rs 10000 is a huge amount.

Their deaths were avoidable, only if, Mamata Banerjee government had the humility to permit Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme to be implemented in West Bengal.

The Trigger

On almost a daily basis, we get mails from our readers, requesting us to appeal for funds from the general public towards their medical treatment. Since our formation, we have collected funds towards treatment for many; however we came to realize that raising funds from the general public won’t resolve our dire health care needs. We cannot ask for donations every day, and we cannot discriminate – ask for one and not ask for other, which is why we have altogether stopped posting request for donations for medical expenses.

However, that doesn’t help either.

About four days ago, one of our readers from Kolkata Mr. Mithun Chakraborty had sent us a similar request for raising funds. He has been helping a family from Maneybhanjyang. Their baby Punol Lepcha has been diagnosed with Cancer and is undergoing a treatment at NRS hospital in Kolkata.

Mr. Mithun wrote to us, “Today I met the family of Baby Punol Lepcha in Kolkata NRS hospital to extend my support. We have already arranged some funds for the child’s treatment with the help of Kalimpong NGO Mani Trust and Subash Mani Singh Kami. Looking for more avenues for funds and donations. Requesting everyone to extend their support for the poor family. (sic)”

We explained to him, that we will do our best to help, and we are doing so by reaching out to our elected representatives privately, urging them support the family through PM and CM relief funds. As you all know government process takes time. Our request so far hasn’t elicited proper response.

However yesterday Mr Chakraborty wrote, “So sad that you didn’t post this information in the page. Maybe because I am a Bengali – Isn’t it DC?” this broke our heart.

We don’t know what to write back to him, or how to explain. Hence, this editorial.

We request all those who are reading this. If you have any reach in the West Bengal Govt, please tell them to implement Ayushman Bharat – they can call it Mamata Bangla, instead of Ayushman Bharat if they want to. But because of their ego fight with the Center, poor people here are suffering.

This criminal denial of health care privileges to poor needs to end. Otherwise people like Pandit Oraon will continue to commit suicide, and children like Punol and their families will continue to suffer.

Let’s work together to get the health care rights for everyone.

Anyone wanting to help Punol can call his mother at: +91 62892 59454