Under the Ayushman Bharat Vaya Vandana Yojana, all senior citizens aged 70 and above receive free and cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh annually. There is no income limit to benefit from this scheme. The Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district has achieved a historic milestone in Chhattisgarh’s healthcare landscape. The district has emerged as the first in the state in the successful implementation of the central government’s ambitious Ayushman Bharat Vaya Vandana Yojana, launched for the welfare of senior citizens.
According to the state-level review report released on July 15, 2026, the district achieved the top position, achieving excellent performance against its set targets. This success underscores the vision of the district administration and the dedication of health workers.
- Sets an example with 81.17% coverage
Under the scheme, all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of their income, are provided free and cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per year. In Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district, a record 22,333 senior citizens have successfully been issued Vaya Vandana cards, against a target of 27,514 members. The district ranks first in Chhattisgarh with an unprecedented coverage rate of 81.17 percent, while the state average is 64 percent. This model of the district has now become a role model and a source of inspiration for other districts of the state.
- Activation of district administration and health staff
Expressing delight at this prestigious success, the District Collector stated that ensuring the benefits of all government welfare and public welfare schemes reach the last eligible individual with complete transparency is the highest priority of the district administration. He attributed this achievement to the activeness and strategic planning of the Health Department’s field staff. The Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) described this success as a result of teamwork. He stated that Roshan Sachdev, District Coordinator of the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, along with all Block Medical Officers (BMOs), field staff, Mitanins, and health workers, demonstrated unparalleled dedication. The team not only worked at the data entry level, but also actively conducted door-to-door surveys, identifying eligible beneficiaries, and promptly providing them with cards.
This excellent performance has boosted the morale of the health department and the district administration has reiterated its resolve to maintain the same level of excellence in all health indicators and schemes in the future also.
