Delhi polls 2025: In counter scheme to Ayushman Bharat, Arvind Kejriwal promises free healthcare for senior citizens

Invoking Ramayana and likening himself to Lord Hanuman, Kejriwal said, “Like Hanuman brought Sanjeevani bhooti when Laxman fell sick, your son Kejriwal has brought a Sanjeevani bhooti for all of you… Under this Sanjeevani Yojana, treatment for all citizens above 60 years will be free. Whether it is a government or private hospital, treatment is free. If we return to power, we will launch this policy.”

He said there would be no cap, upper limit, or category. “There will be no BPL, APL, RPL… There will be no category. Chahe Ameer ho ya gareeb, sabka ilaj free mai karvaya jayega (Whether one is rich or poor, treatment will be free). There will be no upper limit. We will bear the entire cost of the treatment,” Kejriwal said.

दिल्ली के हमारे सभी बुजुर्गों के लिए ख़ुशख़बरी। दिल्ली में 60 साल से ज़्यादा उम्र के सभी नागरिकों का इलाज मुफ़्त होगा। ये केजरीवाल की गारंटी है। @ArvindKejriwal जी LIVE https://t.co/B5sAh1Ciqs

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 18, 2024

“First of all, I want to thank you all because of you people, we are here today. Our elderly parents work hard to provide for the family and give education to children and our future. When you grow old, we are responsible for taking care of you. Inspired by Shravan Kumar ji, we launched the Teerath Yatra programme, under which around 1 lakh senior citizens have taken trips to several pilgrimages across the country so far,” Kejriwal added.

“Several places like Ayodhya, Rameshwaram, Puri, etc, are included in this programme. The Delhi government pays for the entire trip, from pick-up and drop-off to hotel, food, etc. In return, you give us your blessings. With growing age, health also deteriorates. The biggest tension is where to get treatment; medicines, surgery, and doctor fees are expensive. I know that even rich people face this problem. So, we have brought this scheme for our elderly parents as it is our turn to take care of them,” Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal said the registration process for the scheme will start in two days. “You don’t have to go anywhere. Our AAP volunteers will come to your house and complete the registration process. They will give you a card, keep it safe. After we return to power, you will be provided free treatment,” he added.

This is, however, not the first time the AAP has announced a free scheme. Before the 2020 Assembly polls, it announced the ‘Teerath Yatra’ scheme, under which more than one lakh senior citizens have taken trips to several pilgrimage sites across the country.