Udupi: Konkani Health Cards initiative launched

Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Aug 31: H S Ballal, pro chancellor, Manipal University, on Friday August 30 launched Konkani Health Cards at Don Bosco Hall, Udupi.

Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi, inaugurated the function by lighting the lamp.

In his inaugural speech, the Bishop said, “It was the Indian government's mission and aim to provide good healthcare and good nutrition to all people by the year 2000. But the sad thing is that till now we haven’t been able to achieve it. As a developing country, we are taking steps towards this. If all Indians support the government in this cause then this can be achieved at the earliest.”

“In this regard, the Catholic Sabha, with the help of Manipal University has taken the initiative to reach the last person in society with the help of health cards. Since eight years, Catholic Sabha has been doing this job and I am personally very grateful to the members of Catholic Sabha and Manipal University administration for their support in the mission. This year, Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh has reached 12,293 families in the diocese. Currently, good doctors and hi-tech hospitals are available, but only a few have access to such hospitals. If all the people have the facilities then even the common man can get the best of the treatment. Towards this, Manipal University is doing good job,” he added.

Veronica Cornelio, as the co-ordinator of the initiative, gave a brief info about the cards. “After splitting Udupi and Mangalore, we reached nearly 12, 293 families and nearly 40,976 persons in Udupi diocese. We have collected a sum of Rs 35,85,425 as premium amount and handed it over to Manipal University. They will pay the remaining amount which is nearly 90 percent and hand it over to the insurance company,” she added.

At the same time, she urged the pro chancellor of MU, "When we started the project with a premium amount of Rs 25, each family used to get Rs 30,000 as benefit. But now, the premium amount has been raised to Rs 175 and the sum assured is still Rs 30,000 for one family. Hereby we request you to increase the amount to Rs 50,000."
 
Last year, Rs 3.8 crore was the amount spent on beneficiaries under this project, she added.

Ballal said that many social service initiatives were on the anvil. “Every year, we are reaching many people through health cards. Our motto is to give the best medicine and the best education to meritorious persons if they are interested in studies. I won’t promise anything about the hike in the benefit amount. But I will try my best to do it,” he added.

Elroy Kiran Crasto presided over the function while Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Pramod Madhawaraj, MLA of Udupi, Fr Fred Mascarenhas, dean, Udupi deanery, Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves, director, Catholic Sabha, Udupi Pradesh, Shreepathi Shet, general manager, insurance department, Manipal University, Leslie Cornelio, president, Catholic Sabha Udupi unit, Mary D’Souza, secretary, Walter Cyril Pinto, past president, Catholic Sabha, Mangalore, Vivian, and Veronica Cornelio, co-ordinator, Aarogya Cards, were present on the dais.

A memorandum was given to the MLA on behalf of the Catholic Sabha.

Louis D’Almeida, president, Catholic Sabha, Udupi deanery, welcomed the gathering, Mary D’Souza, secretary, gave the vote of thanks while Alphonse D’Costa compered the programme.