Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: Delhi to include widows and Divyang beneficiaries for wider health cover

The Delhi Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has decided to bring beneficiaries of widow and disability assistance schemes under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. The move covers about 3.97 lakh widows and 1.31 lakh Divyang persons, with families also eligible. Delhi expects roughly 5.5 lakh additional families to gain health protection.

The Delhi government decided on Tuesday to extend Ayushman Bharat cover to more welfare beneficiaries. The Delhi Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, brought widow and disability assistance recipients under PMJAY. The move covered about 3.97 lakh widows and 1.31 lakh Divyang persons. Families of these beneficiaries also became eligible under the scheme.

Chief Minister Gupta said Delhi already had about 5.5 lakh families receiving Ayushman Bharat benefits. Gupta added that around 5.5 lakh more families would now get health security cover. The expanded pool added to those already eligible through other groups. Gupta linked the step to support for low-income households.

Ayushman Bharat expansion in Delhi adds new eligible groups

The newly included families joined beneficiaries from Antyodaya Anna Yojana AAY and Priority Household PRS categories. Coverage also continued for senior citizens above 70 years of age. ASHA workers, and Anganwadi workers and helpers, remained part of the eligible set. The decision widened the list of groups supported through PMJAY in Delhi.

Gupta reiterated that the government is firmly committed to ensuring that no poor, vulnerable or needy citizen of Delhi is deprived of medical treatment due to financial constraints. The chief minister emphasised that the governments objective is clear: no eligible citizen should be deprived of quality and affordable healthcare services. Officials described the step as a push to widen reach.

Ayushman Bharat PMJAY delivery in Delhi: cards, hospitals, treatment

Chief Minister Gupta informed that 7,23,707 Ayushman cards have been issued in Delhi so far, including 2,74,620 cards to senior citizens. For scheme rollout, 208 hospitals have been empanelled. The network included 156 private hospitals and 53 government hospitals. These facilities were linked to PMJAY services in the capital.

More than 29,120 beneficiaries have received treatment under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana PM-JAY through the State Health Agency SHA in Delhi to date. A statement also called PM-JAY the countrys largest health protection scheme. It said the Delhi government had taken a significant step to make it more effective and inclusive.

Gupta said this is not merely an administrative decision but a commitment linked to the health and dignity of every needy family in Delhi. The cabinet decision brought widow and Divyang beneficiaries into the same health cover framework. Officials said families would also be able to use scheme benefits. The government positioned the change as part of wider health access.

With inputs from PTI