Budget 2024: Healthcare cover under Ayushman Bharat to be extended to all ASHA, anganwadi workers, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Pic/PTI

The government on Thursday announced the extension of healthcare cover under Ayushman Bharat to all ASHA and anganwadi workers, reported news agency PTI.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that the health coverage under the Ayushman Bharat scheme will be extended to all ASHA and Anganwadi workers and helpers.

Budget 2024: Upgradation of anganwadi centres to be expedited

Noting that various schemes for maternal and child care will be brought under one comprehensive programme for synergy in implementation, she said, "Upgradation of anganwadi centres under "Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0" will be expedited for improved nutrition delivery, early childhood care and development," reported PTI.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is the largest publicly funded health insurance scheme in the world that provides coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.

Till December 27 last year, 55 crore people belonging to 12 crore families were covered under the scheme.

While presenting the interim Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said it is the government's priority to adequately and timely finance MSMEs.

Budget 2024: Committee to be set up to look into population growth challenges

The government will form a high-powered committee to look into the challenges arising from fast population growth and demographic changes, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday, reported PTI.

Presenting the interim Budget 2024-2025 in Parliament, she said the committee will be mandated to make recommendations for addressing these challenges comprehensively in relation to the goal of 'Viksit Bharat'.

Earlier, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the interim Budget 2024.

PM Modi chaired the cabinet meeting ahead of the Interim Budget presentation in Parliament.

This is the sixth Budget presented by the Finance Minister and last in the second term of the Modi government. The interim budget will take care of the financial needs of the intervening period until a government is formed after the Lok Sabha polls.

A full budget will be presented by the new government.

The Budget Session of Parliament commenced on Wednesday with President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

(With inputs from PTI)