Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Jan 29: In a major welfare move for the teaching community, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved a cashless mediclaim facility for around 15 lac employees in the education sector, covering teachers, non-teaching staff, and their dependent family members.

The decision, aimed at expanding healthcare access, applies to staff in government-aided and self-financed schools under the Basic and Secondary Education Councils. It encompasses honorary teachers, Shiksha Mitras, special educators, instructors, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya teachers, wardens, and cooks employed under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana, along with their dependents.

Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna stated that 32 proposals were presented to the cabinet, of which 30 were approved. The initiative was first announced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Teachers’ Day last year, and the facility will now be available in both government and private hospitals.

Secondary education minister Gulab Devi highlighted that approximately 2.97 lac beneficiaries will be covered under one category of employees, with an estimated expenditure of Rs 89.25 crore. Meanwhile, Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh added that over 11.95 lac teachers and staff linked to the Basic Education Council would also benefit, with an annual financial outlay of Rs 358.61 crore. The average annual premium per employee is expected to be around Rs 3,000.

The treatment rates under this scheme will follow the guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and the National Health Authority. For employees in self-financed institutions, benefits will be provided after verification by district-level committees, chaired by the district inspector of schools and the basic education officer.

This scheme is expected to significantly improve access to healthcare for education sector employees and their families across the state.