TFP Bureau, Raipur, May 25, 2025: Chhattisgarh has secured an impressive fifth position across India in issuing PM Ayushman Vaya-Vandana cards for senior citizens aged 70 and above, outpacing larger states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Bihar. Over 3.6 lakh senior citizens in the state have received these cards, enabling them to access free healthcare under the flagship scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and guidance from Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, the state has accelerated the registration process since November 2024, following the national rollout of the Vaya-Vandana card registration in October 2024. Special district-level campaigns are being actively conducted to ensure no eligible senior citizen is left out.
The government collaborates with various departments and social organizations, including pensioner groups, senior citizens’ welfare associations, old age homes, and residential societies, to facilitate registration camps throughout the state.
Senior citizens or their family members possessing Aadhaar cards can obtain the Ayushman Vaya-Vandana card free of cost at nearby government hospitals, Chief Medical and Health Officer offices, or through government health workers. Additionally, registrations and information are accessible via the toll-free number 104, or through digital platforms like the Ayushman Bharat App and Aadhaar Face ID App available on the Google Play Store.
The state has designated six districts as “Vaya-Mitra” districts, where over 60 percent of eligible seniors have been registered. These districts receive special health services including “Vaya-Mitra Health Check-up Camps” at district hospitals and community health centers, mobile medical units serving remote areas, telemedicine and mental health counseling at Ayushman-Arogya Mandirs, weekly “Siyan-Jatan Camps,” Ayurvedic treatments, and cataract screening.
This comprehensive approach reflects Chhattisgarh’s strong commitment to providing accessible healthcare and improving the quality of life for its senior citizens under the PM Ayushman Vaya-Vandana Yojana.
