Kerala ke 16th Legislative Assembly ke shuruwat ke mauke par, Governor Rajendra Arlekar ne public health aur elderly welfare mein badlav laane wali ek landmark policy ka announcement kiya. Isse state inclusive aur equitable healthcare delivery ka model banna chah raha hai. Thiruvananthapuram mein 29 May 2026 ko hue inaugural session mein Arlekar ne do bade initiatives pesh ki: Senior Citizens’ Welfare ke liye ek alag department ka creation aur “Oommen Chandy Aarogya Insurance Scheme” ki launch, jismein har family ko ₹25 lakh ka free annual health cover milne ka proposal hai.
Ek dedicated department for senior citizens ka creation Kerala ke demographic transition ke critical phase mein ho raha hai. Official data ke hisab se state ki 18.7% population ab 60 saal se zyada umar ki hai, aur ek badi taadad chronic multimorbidities ke saath jee rahi hai. Naya department Social Justice, Health, aur Local Self-Government departments mein fragmented welfare aur health services ko ek saath layega. In functions ko ek hi chhat ke neeche laane se government ek continuum of care banana chahti hai, taaki elderly logon ko medical, social, aur support services ka seamless access mile.
Health insurance scheme, UDF government ke “five Indira Guarantees” ke tahet ek flagship promise hai, jismein har family ko ₹25 lakh ka annual cover milne ka proposal hai. Lekin eligibility ke baare mein details abhi clear nahi hain—kiya ye universal hoga ya BPL families tak hi limited rahega—aur kya ye existing Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhati (KASP) ko replace karega, ye abhi pata nahi. Scheme se high medical costs ke against financial protection milne ki ummeed hai, especially un families ke liye jo chronic illness ya elderly care face kar rahi hain.
Bade healthcare system ko address karte hue, Arlekar ne state bhar mein public health institutions ko restore aur strengthen karne par zyada zor diya. Unhone medical colleges, district hospitals, aur taluk hospitals ko modernize karne ki zaroorat par highlight kiya, taaki balanced development aur equitable access ho. “Healthcare ek fundamental public responsibility hai,” unhone kaha, aur government ke commitment ko reaffirm kiya ki Kerala public health mein apni long-standing reputation ko maintain kare.
Policy address mein preventive healthcare, mental health, palliative care, aur geriatric services par focus karne wali multi-pronged strategy bhi pesh ki gayi. Primary health centers (PHCs) ko digital integration aur expanded specialist services ke liye prioritize kiya jaega, with special attention given to lifestyle diseases, cancer care, maternal health, aur child nutrition. Community-based healthcare ko aur strong karne ke liye, government “Care Cabin” support centers launch karne ki plan kar raha hai sabhi Collectorates mein, jismein senior citizens ke liye legal aid, healthcare, aur protection services milengi.
Elderly welfare initiatives par special emphasis diya gaya, jismein sabhi cities ko elderly-friendly urban spaces mein transform karne ka plan hai. Vayomithram Project—jo abhi select areas mein chalta hai—ko sabhi block panchayats tak expand kiya jaega, jismein home-based healthcare aur mental health support senior citizens ke liye provide kiya jaega. Cognitive decline aur dementia se nipatne ke liye, state Smrithi Cafes, dementia day-care centers, aur specialized memory clinics ko expand karegi, saath hi healthy aging ko promote karne wali public awareness campaigns bhi chalayegi.
Apne concluding remarks mein, Arlekar ne government ke commitment ko zyada emphasize kiya medical aur nursing education, aur healthcare research ko aage badhane ka. Unhone Kerala ki vision pesh ki, jo na sirf apni position maintain karega balki affordable, high-quality healthcare ke global destination ke roop mein elevate hoga, taaki iske health achievements ki legacy future generations ko inspire karti rahe.
