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Ayushman Bharat Expands Coverage for Elderly Indians Over 70

A significant extension of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has been authorized by the Union Cabinet. This expansion now includes all Indians aged 70 and older regardless of their income. It is anticipated that registration for this expanded health coverage will open soon, with the prime minister’s formal announcement following.

Overview of AB PM-JAY

2018 saw the debut of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) a cashless health insurance program. It pays for healthcare to the tune of ₹5 lakh per family annually. It provides hospital care for more than 10 crore families or over 50 crore (500 million) individuals. The scheme also ensures that even pre-existing conditions are covered, and it’s available without the need to pay a premium. Families in need are the target beneficiaries who are found using information from the 2011 census.

Eligibility and Registration

Enrollment in the program is open to anyone who is at least 70 years old. The Ayushman Bharat app and specific Ayushman Bharat counters at government health facilities are the two places where registration is available. Aadhaar (a unique ID card in India) will be used to verify eligibility during registration.

Beneficiaries won’t have to wait or worry about pre-existing health conditions. Following completion of the electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) process they will be able to immediately begin accessing the health benefits.

Benefit Structure

Elderly beneficiaries will receive ₹5 lakh per year for health expenses and this amount is shared across the family. Re-registration is required for families that are already registered in the scheme to receive an additional ₹5 lakh exclusively for older relatives.

An estimated 60 million older individuals, or 6 crore, are anticipated to gain from this development. Currently the original policy provides coverage to 1.78 crore (17.8 million) people. Eight million more people, or 80 lakh, are covered by various government health programmes.

Financial Impact of the Scheme

For this expansion the government will spend ₹3,437 crore. States will pay for 40% of the total cost. However some states like Delhi, West Bengal, and Odisha are not yet participating in the scheme.

India’s population is getting older. By 2050 19.5% of the population will be aged 60 or above compared to 8.6% in 2011. Healthcare needs are more common among older adults particularly in the event of hospital admissions. This scheme ensures they have access to necessary health services.

Women make up 58% of the elderly population, and many of them are widowed which can make it harder for them to access healthcare. This enlarged program will be especially beneficial to older women who might not receive a lot of family assistance.

The ₹2,000 Crore Mission Mausam Initiative is approved by the Union Cabinet

A significant project named “Mission Mausam” has been approved by the Union Cabinet which is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With a two-year budget of ₹2,000 crore the goal of this project is to greatly enhance India’s capacity for atmospheric science and weather prediction.

The objective of Mission Mausam

A 2016 initiative by the Indian government called Mission Mausam aims to investigate monsoon patterns and climate change. In an effort to increase farming methods and prediction accuracy the program unites several research groups. It also seeks to increase public knowledge of how climate change affects livelihoods and agriculture as well as to establish systems to alert people to extreme weather events.

Who will lead Mission Mausam?

The execution of Mission Mausam will be supervised by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Numerous important organizations will be involved, such as:

• India Meteorological Department (IMD)
• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)
• National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF)
• These institutions will cooperate to guarantee the mission’s success.

How will Technology play a role?

Modern technologies including machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) will be used by Mission Mausam to enhance weather forecasting. To collect more precise data it will be necessary to install satellite systems with cutting-edge sensors and contemporary radars. High-performance supercomputers will also process this data fast in order to produce more accurate projections.

Core Features of Mission Mausam

The mission will include:

• Enhanced earth system models that simulate weather patterns.
• A GIS-based automated Decision Support System, which will provide real-time data to decision-makers helping them respond quickly to weather changes.

Who will benefit from this Initiative?

Many industries are anticipated to gain from Mission Mausam, including: 

Agriculture: Farmers can make better decisions about when to produce and harvest crops if more accurate weather forecasts are available. 

Disaster management: Better weather forecasting can assist in preparing for cyclones and floods, among other natural catastrophes. Improved meteorological data can guarantee safer and more effective operations in the aviation and transportation sectors. 

Health and urban planning: By offering information on weather and environmental changes the mission will also help with planning. An important investment in India’s capacity to forecast and control meteorological conditions is Mission Mausam. It promises to enhance forecasting accuracy and provide multiple benefits to sectors like agriculture disaster management, and health.

Ecological Degradation in Veli-Akkulam Lake

According to a recent study that was presented at the ECSA 60 conference in Hangzhou by academics from the University of Kerala, Veli-Akkulam Lake is experiencing a major ecological degradation. The introduction of non-native species has had a significant impact on the lake’s environment during the past 30 years altering its trophic status (the way nutrients travel through the food chain) and upsetting the natural food web.

Study Overview

Utilizing the Ecopath Model, the researchers were able to trace the composition of the lake’s food web and assess how well the ecosystem is functioning. According to the study there has been a significant decrease in native species and a sharp rise in invasive species—those that did not originate in the lake.

Historical Background

In the 1990s, a scientist named C.M. Aravindan first studied the Veli-Akkulam ecosystem. A wide range of native species, including prawns, cichlids, barbs, and catfish, were found in the lake at that time. These species helped maintain a healthy ecosystem. Recent research however, indicates that a significant number of these local species have become extinct.

Species Decline

Prawns: Approximately 57.60 tons of prawns were present per square kilometer in the past. Now that number has dropped to just 0.110 tonnes per square kilometer.

Native Cichlid Population: From 41.6 tons per square kilometer to 0.350 tonnes per square kilometer, the native cichlid population declined.

Rise of Invasive Species

By the 2000s invasive species—species brought from other areas that pose a threat to the local wildlife—had supplanted many native species. Some of the main invasive species in the lake are:

• Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
• Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)
• The Amazon sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys pardalis) and the Amazon African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) are two more invasive species. With their quick proliferation, these species have taken over the lake and upset the ecosystem’s delicate equilibrium.

Invasion Meltdown

This is what Professor Biju Kumar called an “invasion meltdown.” This phrase describes the deteriorating impacts that occur when numerous alien species encroach on an ecosystem, progressively endangering the surrounding area. The people who rely on the lake for their livelihood have been directly impacted by changes in the ecology. More than a hundred local fishermen depended on the lake for their livelihood in the 1990s. There are currently less than 20 as their ability to fish has been hampered by the decline in local fish populations.

About Veli-Akkulam Lake

Kerala, India’s Veli-Akkulam Lake is a stunning freshwater lake. It is fed by the Veli River and spans around 20 acres. The lake attracts both tourists and residents due to its picturesque vistas and popularity as a boating and kayaking destination. It has a little waterway connecting it to the Arabian Sea and is inhabited by a number of species including migratory birds.