Surat: Under the central government’s Ayushman Vay Vandana 70+ program, a total of 2,42,178 senior citizens have been covered across Surat city and district. This initiative, aimed at providing healthcare benefits to citizens above the age of 70, issues Ayushman cards to eligible seniors, offering free treatment for specified ailments.
In Surat city, 1,85,883 senior citizens have been enrolled and issued Ayushman cards, while 56,295 seniors in rural areas have also benefited from the program. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which provides up to ₹10 lakh worth of health coverage for each family, has proved to be a blessing for economically weaker and middle-class families, covering serious illnesses and surgeries.
The Ayushman Vay Vandana 70+ initiative aims to provide healthcare protection for senior citizens, especially those over 70 years of age, with the goal of improving their overall health security. Surat Municipal Corporation and district health teams are ensuring that all eligible seniors, regardless of their socio-economic status, benefit from the scheme.
Dr. Ashish Nayak, Deputy Commissioner (Health & Hospital) of Surat Municipal Corporation, mentioned that nearly 3 lakh eligible senior citizens in Surat city will be included in the program. Currently, 1,85,883 seniors in the city have already received their cards, and the enrollment process is underway for the remaining beneficiaries.
Dr. Paresh Surat, Health Officer at the Surat District Panchayat, stated that 56,295 senior citizens in rural areas have received their cards. The process is ongoing for the remaining seniors, with the necessary verification such as ration card, Aadhaar card, and e-KYC being completed.
To facilitate the enrollment, Ayushman Vay Vandana cards are being issued at 62 Urban Health Centers, community health centers, and designated rural health centers across Surat. Senior citizens can also apply for the card online through the following steps:
Download the “Ayushman” app from the Google Play Store.
Enter your mobile number and verify it.
Click on the registration button for seniors aged 70+.
Enter your Aadhaar number and click on Verify.
Click on the camera button to capture your photo.
Submit your photo to complete the process.
Once registered, the Ayushman card will be displayed, and it can be downloaded later. An OTP will be sent to your mobile number at each step.
Additionally, enrollment can also be completed by visiting https://beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
