Srinagar: The J&K government has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the landmark Cancer Treatment & Management Fund for Poor (CTMFP) to ease the out-of-pocket financial burden on poor and vulnerable patients battling cancer, an official press release said Tuesday.
It said this policy shift directly targets the critical gaps that previously left low-income families financially exhausted. While major inpatient operations and therapies are broadly covered under the Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY SEHAT ecosystem, patients historically suffered massive out-of-pocket expenses for outpatient care, routine diagnostics, and daily medication.
Addressing this gap, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s modified guidelines raise the annual family income eligibility limit from ₹2.40 lakh per annum (₹20,000 per month) to ₹4.00 lakh per annum, extending a strong safety net to other low-income families, the press release said.
Furthermore, recognising that cancer recovery demands sustained assistance, the administration has replaced the old one-time grant with up to three distinct financial sanctions.
The revised scheme showcases a modern transformation when evaluated against the original 2010 guidelines.
The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s updated initiative institutes clear assistance slabs of ₹75,000 for families earning up to ₹3 lakh annually and ₹50,000 for those earning between ₹3 lakh and ₹4 lakh.
The beneficiaries are no longer confined to a short list; they can now access care at any hospital empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY-SEHAT network.
The modified scheme modifies the traditional approach of assistance sent to hospital accounts. Instead, direct bank transfers via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the patient shall be made. Further, once sanction is received from the Chief Minister’s office, Deputy Commissioners are required to deposit sanctioned funds directly into beneficiary bank accounts within 72 hours of release from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
This modified scheme is the government’s decisive move to address financial vulnerability of patients suffering from life threatening disease and to provide governmental support to the families in need, the press release said.
… discusses governance, development issues with ‘Group of Concerned Citizens’
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today held a meeting with members of the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) J&K at the Civil Secretariat here and discussed a range of issues concerning governance, development, environment and public welfare in Jammu and Kashmir, an official press release informed.
It said Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani was also present at the meeting. The civil society group was led by Khurshid Ahmed Ganai (IAS retd.) and comprised other members of the GCC.
The delegation raised several issues of public importance, including governance, environmental protection, municipal administration and waste management. Particular attention was drawn to the conservation of water bodies and wetlands and the need for effective measures to safeguard these important ecological assets.
The GCC also raised issues relating to the conversion of agricultural land, traffic management, flood mitigation and management, and power development, including greater focus on renewable energy. Issues pertaining to skill development and employment generation, as well as digitisation of revenue records, were also discussed.
The chief minister gave a patient hearing to the concerns and suggestions put forth by the members of the GCC. He noted the issues raised during the meeting and assured that these would be taken into consideration by the government while examining the relevant matters.
