Members of Parents Association of Mentally Handicapped at a news conference on Monday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Sept. 1: Parents’ Association of Mentally Handicapped, Jamshedpur, backed by the National Trust under the department of Union ministry of social justice and empowerment, have tabled a medical insurance scheme called Niramaya for special children in the city.

The scheme would extend benefits to mentally impai- red children and include those diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism and multiple disabilities.

The insurance initiative is a first-of-its-kind in Jharkhand.

The insurance cover would help special children avail treatment up to Rs 1,00,000 in two hospitals in the state that are associated with the cause of special children — Tata Main Hospital (TMH) and Steel City Nursing Home in Bistupur.

“Mentally impaired children are more susceptible to illnesses. As parents who have faced emergencies we understand the financial crises that follows an illness.

“Thus, we thought we should take an initiative to reach out to others like us and lend parents the help they need. We recently began a campaign regarding the initiative. We would welcome like-minded people who wish to be a part of this scheme,” said Babu Rao, the secretary of the parents’ association.

From September 4 to 5, the association will be taking in application forms before issuing an identity card for each patient at the Day Care Centre, Dhatkidih.

A cardholder can entail free treatment in the two above-mentioned hospitals.

Though there would be a processing charge of Rs 250 annually that would be deposited in a general Niramaya account with the State Bank of India, people from BPL and low-income groups families will not be charged anything.

“The insurance covers up to Rs 1,00,000 after which the parents have to bear the rest of the expenses. This is the budget allocated by the National Trust.

“In case of other hospitals not associated with the trust, parents would have to pay off the bills and receive a voucher. The money will then be refunded, as is the case in ordinary health insurance cases,” said Rao.

The association members expressed a desire that more people from West Singhbhum and similar backward districts such as Seraikela come forward and pitch in with whatever help they can as there are few NGOs in those districts working with special people.

“We have informed as many people as we could. We are expecting more then 350 people to register, but the response will also depend upon the level of awareness of parents.

“Some 90 per cent of families from the low-income groups are unaware of the fact that special children need more help than other children. And they are also unaware that there is now special help meant for them. This is where media can help with the reports,” Rao summed up.