MLA in JK can give Rs 20 lakh a year from Constituency Fund for treatment of poor

Srinagar, Jul 6: In Jammu and Kashmir, an MLA can now spend up to Rs 20 lakh annually from his/her Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for providing financial assistance to poor patients suffering from life-threatening diseases.

This has been made possible because of changes made in the guidelines by the government of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to an official order, the assistance will be available to patients belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and other economically weaker categories notified by the government.

The amendment is aimed at extending financial support to economically weaker patients requiring treatment for critical illnesses, it added.

Under the revised guidelines, financial assistance of up to Rs 5 lakh can be provided for organ transplantation, up to Rs 2.75 lakh for cancer treatment and up to Rs 1 lakh for chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis.

Assistance may also be extended for other diseases notified by the government.

The order said the financial aid would be limited to the uncovered portion of the treatment cost after beneficiaries have exhausted assistance available under existing schemes, including PM-JAY SEHAT, the Medical Aid Trust (MAT) and the Cancer Treatment and Management Fund for Poor (CTMFFP). (BVI)