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Sickness
comes as a bolt from the blue to a hand- to- mouth
family. It is very difficult to imagine the hardships
suffered by the affected family. In such a crisis any
relief or assistance from an unexpected corner is
nothing less than manna from the heaven to the
sufferer. The case of Chandar Singh, a casual labourer,
is a classic example of this.
The
tribal middle-aged man of village Bhaukhedi in
Ichhawar tahasil of Sehore district is the bread
earner of a six-member family. Recently he felt a
severe stomach pain and rushed to the health center at
Ichhawar where he was hospitalized. In a couple of
days he spent all the money he had on him. Dr. B.B.
Sharma attending on him took no time to twig in the
situation from the lines of anxieties on his forehead.
The
doctor enquired Chandar whether he possessed a B.P.L.
card. When Chandar replied in affirmation, the former
informed him about Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana under
which free medical treatment is provided to members of
the B.P.L. families belonging to scheduled castes and
scheduled tribes. Chandar’s joy knew no bounds to
learn about the scheme. Within no time he was issued a
card under the scheme and provided free medicines and
other medical facilities. In his own words “ I got
free injections and medicines. I was in the hospital
for eight days but after receiving the card I had to
spend not a single penny. Now I am quite well, thanks
to the innovative scheme launched by the government
for the poor people like me.
Chandar
informed that many years ago when his father had
fallen ill, the family had to take loan that was
repaid with great difficulty. He said that the timely
help saved his life otherwise he would have to either
take a loan to meet the expenditure on his treatment
or had to go without treatment. Now Chandar works on a
filed about two km from his home.
Chandar’s
wife, Raju keeps the Deendayal Antyodaya Upchar Card
in a box with great care realizing its importance in
case a member of the family is taken ill. She knows
that free medical treatment costing up to Rs. 20
thousand would be provided to the sick person.
About
20 thousand B.P.L. families belonging to scheduled
castes and scheduled tribes have been issued these
cards under the scheme. They are now assured that in
case a member of the family is taken ill there would
be no financial problem at least
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