Kerala aid for family of officer dead in terror strike

The Kerala government has sanctioned Rs5mn ex-gratia to the family of Lieutenant Colonel E K Niranjan, who died in a terror attack on an air force base on Sunday.
The state government also offered his widow, Dr K G Radhika, a job and will sponsor the education of the couple’s 18-month-old daughter, Vismaya.
“The cabinet took the decision to honour the soldier who laid down his life for the country,” Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after a cabinet meeting yesterday.
The 32-year old National Security Guard (NSG) officer was laid to rest in his Elambulassery village in Palakkad district on Tuesday with military honours.
The chief minister earlier announced a programme to ensure healthcare for all residents in the state.
All families with an annual income less than Rs300,000 will come under the programme bringing all existing financial assistance schemes ‘under one umbrella’.
“Some 4.2mn families will benefit from this project,” he said.
The chief minister will head the Total Health Kerala Trust with a corpus fund of Rs200mn. The beneficiaries will get a smart card for availing of assistance up to Rs200,000.
Patients confined to their beds will get assistance for 10 more days, 30 days in case of complicated cases, after hospital discharge.
The scheme covers free outpatient (OP) tests, food for the patients and their helper and medicines.
Those in need of long-term treatment can get benefits for up to a year under a special package.
Nearly a dozen existing schemes will be brought to a single IT platform and they will have uniform procedures. Currently, these schemes have different and complex processes.
The beneficiaries will get a one-time income certificate from the revenue department for the purpose. The hospitals will also be brought under the network.
A technical panel like third-party administrators of health insurance companies will consider each claim and send its recommendations to the trust for final approval.
The rates will be decided time-to-time based on the reverse bidding process.
Treatment for cancer patients below 18 years of age will be entirely free.