West Bengal government employees, pensioners and their family members who possess Swasthya Sathi or Ayushman Bharat cards have been directed to surrender them by 31 October, according to a notice issued by the state Finance Department. The instruction applies to people covered under the West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS).
The notice covers cards issued in the name of the government employee or pensioner, as well as cards held in the names of their family members. Cardholders must submit the relevant cards along with a declaration in the prescribed format and a receipt confirming the surrender.
The documents and cards have to be deposited at the headquarters of the government department in which the concerned employee works. For pensioners and other eligible beneficiaries, the submission will be handled through the relevant departmental administrative structure, as set out in the notice reported by Anandabazar.
The order also places a verification responsibility on senior officials. The concerned higher authorities have been instructed to examine the declaration and supporting documents submitted by employees and pensioners. This creates an administrative audit trail for identifying beneficiaries who are covered by the state employee health scheme while also holding cards issued under other health-support programmes.
The directive does not state that all Swasthya Sathi or Ayushman Bharat cards in West Bengal must be surrendered. Its stated scope is limited to government employees, pensioners and their family members who are covered under WBHS and hold such cards in their own names or in the names of relatives.
The notice warns of disciplinary consequences for non-compliance. If the cards and declaration are not submitted within the specified period, action may be taken against the concerned employee or pensioner. Failure to surrender the cards may also lead to the person being denied benefits under WBHS, according to the reported contents of the notice.
The order treats non-submission as an act of indiscipline, making the deadline more than a routine administrative request. Employees and pensioners covered by WBHS will therefore need to identify whether they or their family members possess Swasthya Sathi or Ayushman Bharat cards, complete the prescribed declaration and submit the required material to the appropriate departmental headquarters before 31 October.
The notice makes senior departmental authorities responsible for checking the declarations and documentary evidence. The next administrative step is the collection and verification of the cards, declarations and receipts before the deadline set by the Finance Department.
