Gandhinagar: Gujarat government today in its budget announced expansion of income limit for Ma Vatsalya Yojana benifits.

The income limit of family is at present Rs 1.2 lakh which has been now increased to Rs 1.5 lakh. Additional budget allocation of Rs 500 crore has been made for this purpose in budget.

This is one announcement that attracted applause in the house with great spirit from MLAs.

Finance Minister Nitin Patel in his budget speech said the acredited journalists will be covered under Ma Vatsalya Yojana and they along with their family members will be eligible to get upto Rs 2 lakh assistance for medical treatment, medicines, operation cost under the scheme. Patel said the journalists will also be covered for Rs 5 lakh insurance.

Among other announcements in health ministry include Rs 15 crore for 500 Deendayal generic drug stores, Rs 129 crore for modernization of Civil hospital in Ahmedabad, Rs 100 crore for assistance to set up super specialty hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic centers and medical colleges, Rs 100 crore for new unit of heart treatment for children at UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology in Ahmedabad, Rs 51 crore for additional 220 seats in Vadodara, Surat, Jamnagar government medical colleges. Rs 15 crore for additional 70 new ambulance for 108 emergency service and 43 more ambulances in govt hospitals. Rs 466 crore for free medicines to all patients visiting public hospitals. Rs 102 crore for elimination of communicable diseases.

DeshGujarat