Punjab Government has decided to bring nearly 8.5 lakh farmers and their families under the ambit of the health insurance cover in line with the Ayushman Bharat Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana for the year 2021-22. Besides, all the farmers having J forms and Sugarcane Weighment Slips would be eligible for the health scheme.

To facilitate the farmers to apply for this scheme in the easiest way, the Mandi Board has launched a dedicated portal for the first time from this year. Now, the farmers need not to visit the market committee office to apply manually as was the case earlier.

He also informed that the number of farmers covered under Health Insurance Scheme during the last year of the scheme stood at around 5.01 lakh based on J forms and Sugarcane Weighment Slips. Now, the number of farmers has reached nearly 8.5 lakh with 7.91 lakh farmers having J forms registered with the Mandi Board and 55,000 cane growers.

Pointing out further, Lal Singh also said that these 5.01 lakh farmers, who have already been registered under Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna during last year, need not to re-apply on portal as they will be extended the benefit for next year based on earlier documents but remaining nearly 3.5 lakh farmers registered as J form holders and Sugarcane Weighment Slips after October 1, 2020, would have to apply on portal for availing Health Insurance.