New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday announced a 20 percent hike in the health budget for the year 2011-2012.
‘I propose to hike the health budget in 2011-12 by 20 percent to Rs.26,760 crore,’ Mukherjee said while presenting his third budget.
He also said that the Rashtriya Swasthya Beema Yojana had emerged as an effective instrument for providing health cover to marginal workers.
‘It is now being extended to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme beneficiaries and others. In 2011-12, I propose to further extend this scheme to cover unorganised sector workers in hazardous mining and associated industries like lead pencil, bromide, mica and asbestos,’ he added.
