Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta on Monday raised concerns in Parliament over senior citizens above 70 years in Karnataka being excluded from Ayushman Bharat Yojana benefits. Speaking under Rule 377, he stated that the Karnataka government has failed to contribute its required 40% share to the scheme, effectively depriving lakhs of elderly residents of critical healthcare access.
Capt Chowta noted that in Mangaluru alone, nearly 80,000 residents above 70 years are missing out on the ₹5 lakh annual insurance coverage for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation offered under the scheme. He stressed that many elderly citizens rely entirely on this financial support for life-saving treatments.
The MP criticised the state’s decision as being at odds with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Ayushman Bharat, which aims to provide universal health coverage and financial protection for the country’s most vulnerable populations.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Capt Chowta urged the Union government to take swift measures to safeguard the healthcare rights of Karnataka’s elderly. He called on the Centre to direct the state government to meet its funding obligations so that senior citizens can receive the intended benefits under this flagship initiative.
He reiterated that healthcare security for senior citizens should not be compromised due to administrative or political differences, and that immediate