The West Bengal government has extended the deadline for its employees, pensioners and enrolled beneficiaries under the West Bengal Health Scheme to surrender their Swasthya Sathi and Ayushman Bharat cards by one month, giving them until November 30 to complete the process.
The earlier deadline was October 31. The extension was announced on Friday after the government found that a considerable number of employees, pensioners and their beneficiaries had not completed the surrender process or submitted the required documents, according to a senior official cited by PTI.
The directive applies to all state government employees and pensioners covered under the West Bengal Health Scheme, including members of the All India Services. Their enrolled beneficiaries are also covered if they hold Swasthya Sathi cards, Ayushman Bharat cards or both.
Those affected must surrender the relevant cards and submit the prescribed declaration along with proof of surrender. The process is part of the state government’s earlier instruction concerning beneficiaries enrolled under the West Bengal Health Scheme and holding cards issued under the two other health coverage programmes.
The extension follows an order issued by the medical cell of the finance department. The order said that all other terms, conditions and instructions contained in the earlier order dated October 9 would remain unchanged. The latest decision therefore changes the compliance timeline but does not alter the other requirements set out in the previous directive.
The government has placed responsibility for ensuring compliance on heads of offices, drawing and disbursing officers and authorities responsible for sanctioning pensions. These officials have been asked to take the necessary steps so that eligible employees, pensioners and beneficiaries complete the surrender and documentation process within the extended period.
Swasthya Sathi is West Bengal’s state health assurance scheme, while Ayushman Bharat is the Centre’s health coverage programme. The latest order concerns people who are already enrolled under the West Bengal Health Scheme and also possess cards issued under either of those programmes. The directive, as reported, does not state that the other terms of the October 9 order have been withdrawn.
The November 30 deadline is now the next compliance milestone for the affected employees, pensioners and beneficiaries. Heads of offices, drawing and disbursing officers and pension-sanctioning authorities are expected to coordinate the remaining surrender and declaration submissions before that date.
