Delhi HC Questions Low Income Threshold for Financial Assistance Under Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi Scheme
The Delhi High Court has initiated a case regarding the low income threshold for availing financial assistance under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) scheme. The court observed that the threshold income of Rs. 1,571 for rural areas and Rs. 1,605 for urban areas is “extremely low” and has issued a notice to the Centre seeking clarification.
A Delhi resident, Suresh Kumar Raghav, sought financial assistance of around Rs. 9 lakh under the umbrella scheme for a second kidney transplant due to chronic kidney disease. The High Court noted that he had earlier received assistance of around Rs. 6 lakh under RAN for a transplant that failed in April 2023. However, he was informed that under the scheme, such assistance was given only once, and he did not meet the eligibility criteria.
The High Court has appointed lawyer Ankit Jain as amicus curiae and said the condition that a patient shall be entitled to assistance only once for treatment of kidney transplant was unreasonable.
The case has been posted for further hearing on July 4.
