NEW DELHI: The government extended health insurance support to auto and taxi drivers by committing to pay half of the premium amount under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, which provides smart-card based cashless health insurance cover.

Oscar Fernandes, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, said the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) scheme will address the health concerns of auto rickshaw drivers and taxi drivers, who form an important and vulnerable segment of the unorganized workers in urban areas.

Under the scheme, auto and taxi drivers have to contribute 50 percent of premium for the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, as applicable in that district, in addition to 30 as registration fee, an official statement from the Road Ministry said.

The balance 50 percent of premium would be shared by the Central and State Government that is 25 percent each. The nodal officer from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for the scheme has been nominated, an official statement said.

Nodal officers from States of Karnataka, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and West Bengal with their name and contact details are also being notified for the purpose of implementation of the scheme, the statement said.

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