Kolkata: Over 90,000 people attended the three-day neighbourhood camps by KMC to enrol in various social welfare schemes of state and central govts, a state official said. Old-age pension, Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana, widow pension and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana were among schemes that witnessed the most enrolment and enquiries.The old-age pension offers a Rs 1,500 monthly grant to eligible senior citizens. Both Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana and Ayushman Bharat offer an annual Rs 5 lakh health insurance coverage to a family. While Ayushman Bharat is a central govt-sponsored scheme, Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana is sponsored by the state.Enrolment for Annapurna Yojana, which offers a Rs 3,000 monthly grant to women above 25, was not allowed in the camps. State officials said women who had already applied for the scheme were allowed to check their status or complete e-KYC, a step that takes them closer to receiving the grant. “We could not enrol new applicants, but hundreds of women or their family members came to check the status. If the status shows the application is in progress, then the applicant needs to complete e-KYC,” said an official.Officials at the camps helped applicants complete their e-KYC.In Kolkata, KMC held 157 camps. Some of the other schemes that one could enrol in the camps were PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, West Bengal student credit card, pre- and post-matric scholarships, Jai Johar, PM Svanidhi, old-age, widow and disability pensions, Kanya Ratna, PM Viswakarma and PM Employment Generation Programme.Fifteen state departments offered 46 services at the camps, which also organised health checks.KMC sources said the target was also to reach out to beneficiaries who meet the eligibility criteria but were not aware of the schemes or did not know how to apply. “The camps helped us reach deeper into communities,” the official added.The state held Jan Kalyan Shivir camps from June 15 to 17, the first since the BJP govt assumed office on May 9. Sources said the camps held over the last three days were more decentralised. “There were only 16 camps when Jan Kalyan Shivirs were held. This time we had over 150,” said an official.
