Centre extends insurance scheme for frontline health workers

Coronavirus frontline workers in 40,000 government and private hospitals in the Maharashtra have once again been given insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh each. The central government has decided to provide insurance cover to coronavirus frontline workers for another 180 days.

On March 30, 2020, the central government had decided to provide insurance cover to the employees. Thereafter, the scheme was extended twice till March 20, 2021. Under the Prime Minister's GARIB KALYAN Package, the insurance cover was given to frontline workers in the healthcare sector.

Under this scheme the amount of insurance premium is paid by the Central Government. Health department sources said that 40,000 employees in the state have this insurance cover.
The twice-extended term expired on March 20, 2021. So there was a feeling that injustice was being done to these warriors who were serving at the risk of their lives.

The Central Government had directed all the states to accept the claims received till April 24, 2021 and pay the insurance only. However, there were problems due to non-extension of the insurance plan.