The Musahars, entrenched in various forms of isolation by the upper castes and mass social discrimination in society, the COVID pandemic has pushed this vulnerable section further to the margins with the ramification measures for prevention of COVID -19. Bihar has the third-highest number of malnourished children in India, and nearly 2.2 million Musahars, which constitute 15% of the state’s Dalit population. With about 96.3% of them being landless, Musahars live in appalling conditions of poverty and 92.5% of them eke out a living as unskilled or farm labourers. Chronic poverty, abysmally low literacy rate, early marriages and inadequate dietary intake have adversely affected the health of the Musahar community, particularly of women and children.

Caritas is closely working for the development and empowerment of children from Musahar communities (Mahadalits) in Bihar through their intervention in education and Nutrition under the program of Roshni Suposhan.

As India is slowly progressing out of the COVID pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, Caritas India converged with the Dept. of Health and Family Welfare at Purnea district in Bihar to participate in the mass enrollment drive of Ayushman Bharat Yojana for the Musahar Families.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ambitious health insurance scheme called, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY)-Ayushman Bharat in the year 2018. Ayushman Bharat is the National Health Protection of the central government will cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization considered to be the World’s largest free healthcare scheme providing access to paperless and cashless healthcare.

Through Mass awareness and enrolment drive, Caritas India Partner – PSES has been able to enrol 116 families under the scheme. The enrolment drive continues. They facilitated the process along with CBO leaders and motivated the community to apply for the card and avail its benefits.

“We, Musahars mostly work as daily wage earners.  Our women and children often suffer from various diseases and become victims of malnutrition due to poverty. Amidst this, we are grateful to have been enrolled on this life saving medical insurance scheme. This shall help our family to avail health services, which was a distant dream for us without any such govt. facility”, shared Ganeshi Rishidev with a sense of relief in his heart. He is 45 years old and a resident of Baleshwer Tola, Raniganj Block in Araria District. He is now an Ayushman Bharat Card Holder which will provide him with Medical Benefits.

Caritas India and PSES team continues to conduct the enrolment drive in dialogue with Ayushman Bharat officials and will be in regular dialogue with line departments till all the beneficiaries receive their PM-JAY Cards.

The drive will continue till 31^st March 2021 in all the Roshni Suposhan program districts of Bihar.