20,000 students get health cover under the ‘Aksharatheeram’ comprehensive educational scheme

Kochi: For the first time in the state, a total of 20,000 school students will get a health insurance cover under the ‘Aksharatheeram’ comprehensive educational scheme being floated by Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath. The scheme aims to create a healthy new generation that is educated and can take the nation forward.

The scheme titled ‘MLA Insurance Scheme’ will take care of the healthcare expenses of children belonging to underprivileged families in Aluva Assembly constituency who find it difficult to meet heavy medical expenses.

For a premium of Rs 100, a student will get healthcare assistance of Rs 50,000 a year. If the father or mother of the student dies during this period, Rs 25,000 will be deposited in the name of the student in the bank.

Students from Class I to Class XII belonging to 58 government/aided schools in Aluva Assembly constituency have been included in the scheme. Public sector Oriental Insurance Company is giving coverage to the students and has given a slew of concessions for the scheme.

“We have come to an agreement with 20 hospitals in Aluva constituency and several top hospitals in Kochi to provide treatment under the scheme. The premium amount of Rs 20 lakh for the scheme is sponsored by the Shifa Al-Jazeera Medical group in the Gulf. We went in for the sponsorship as financial aid from the government was not forthcoming,” said Anwar Sadath. The cheque for the amount was handed over at a function on Tuesday.