Delhi approves Rs 10 lakh cashless health cover for construction workers' families

The Delhi Cabinet has approved a Rs 10 lakh cashless health scheme for registered construction workers and their families. The move fills a long-standing welfare gap for workers exposed to hazardous conditions.

In Short

• Cashless medical cover up to Rs 10 lakh for workers and families
• Scheme costs Rs 200 crore annually, benefits 2.7 lakh workers
• Includes free check-ups, diagnostics, emergency and mobile services

The Delhi government on Tuesday approved a health scheme for registered construction workers and their family members, offering cashless medical treatment cover of up to Rs 10 lakh. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office, the Delhi Building and Construction Workers Health Scheme is expected to cost around Rs 200 crore every year and will benefit about 2.70 lakh registered workers and their families, covering around 10 lakh people.

Under the scheme, each registered worker will be entitled to treatment of up to Rs 2 lakh at empanelled hospitals, while the cover for a family will go up to Rs 10 lakh. Gupta said the entire treatment process will be cashless, removing any financial burden on workers and their families. Spouses, children and parents of registered workers will be covered under the scheme.

The scheme will also provide annual health check-ups for registered workers and their spouses. In addition, beneficiaries will get free outpatient and inpatient services, diagnostic and laboratory facilities, emergency medical assistance and referral services. Healthcare services will also be provided through mobile medical units at construction sites and in areas where large numbers of workers live, Gupta said.

Gupta said digital health records of beneficiaries will be created under the scheme and a modern tracking system will be developed to ensure effective monitoring and transparency in service delivery. She said construction workers are "the foundation of the capital's development" and that strengthening their health and social security remains a key priority of the government.

She said the scheme had been approved for workers who are routinely exposed to stone-cutting dust, chemicals, excessive noise, heavy machinery and physically demanding conditions.

Gupta said construction workers are vulnerable to silicosis, respiratory ailments, skin disorders and other serious health problems, and added that a comprehensive health protection scheme for them had long been lacking. The new scheme aims to address that gap while extending cashless treatment and other health services to workers and their families.

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