Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted on Wednesday that West Bengal's 'Swasthya Sathi' health insurance programme is more inclusive and equitable than the central government's Ayushman Bharat initiative. Speaking at a public distribution event in Jalpaiguri during her ongoing administrative tour of northern West Bengal, Banerjee highlighted perceived shortcomings in the national scheme, emphasising her state's commitment to universal coverage. This claim comes amid longstanding tensions between the Trinamool Congress-led state government and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central administration over funding and implementation of welfare programmes.

Banerjee questioned the feasibility of adopting Ayushman Bharat, officially known as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), which provides up to ₹5 lakh per family annually for hospitalisation. She argued that the funding model requires states to cover 60% of costs while the Centre contributes only 40%, potentially straining West Bengal's resources.

Furthermore, she criticised eligibility criteria that exclude households owning items like refrigerators, televisions, or homes, estimating that only about one crore of the state's 11 crore population would qualify. "Why should we implement Ayushman Bharat in Bengal?" she asked, framing it as discriminatory and limited in reach.

In contrast, Banerjee praised 'Swasthya Sathi', launched in 2016, as a fully state-funded programme accessible to all residents without exclusions or divisions. "Our scheme is for everyone. There is no discrimination. "We fund it completely, and above all, we do not take any money from the centre," she stated. The initiative offers similar hospitalisation benefits and has been positioned as a model of self-reliance, reflecting West Bengal's resistance to central schemes it deems inadequate.

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The Chief Minister's three-day tour includes multiple welfare distribution programmes and administrative meetings across northern districts, aimed at bolstering local governance and public outreach.

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