The expanded Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), meant for those aged 70 and above, has not yet been implemented in Tamil Nadu, though nearly one year has passed since the scheme’s launch.
As of now, differences of opinion between the Union government and the Tamil Nadu government with regard to the implementation have not been resolved. “We have had a few rounds of discussion with the Centre,” says a senior official here, adding that the State government is awaiting clarification from the Central government. S.K. Mahendran, former MLA and president of the Madras Labour Union, in a statement, mentions that after having contacted the authorities concerned including those in the National Health Authority (NHA), it has become clear the scheme is “only on paper.”
