SERP to identify Tsunami-hit for health cover

The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) has been given the responsibility of identifying and selecting the beneficiaries for the implementation of the ‘Universal Health Insurance’ scheme for the Tsunami-affected, according to state revenue minister N Raghuveera Reddy.

“The scheme is being implemented jointly by the Centre and United India Insurance Company. We have identified 60,231 people, who were affected by Tsunami, which devastated the state in December 2004. All the affected families will come under the ambit of this scheme,” he said, during a review meeting with the officials concerned on Sunday.

Stating that the insurance premium would be paid from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, Reddy said the scheme would be implemented for the fishermen community across nine districts.

“Earlier, majority of the fishermen couldn’t avail of the benefits from the scheme as the insurance cards were in English. Now, SERP will take the initiative of creating awareness among the fishermen fraternity,” he said in a press release, adding five members of a family would be covered under this scheme.