Jaipur: A 12-year-old girl from Madhya Pradesh, who suffered nearly 70% burns after coming in contact with a high-tension power line, is in critical condition at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, prompting renewed calls from health activists to amend Rajasthan’s policy on free treatment for out-of-state patients. Hospital authorities Tuesday said the girl is being treated despite her family not having the documents required to access free inpatient care under the Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya (MAA) scheme. “The condition of the girl is critical,” an SMS Hospital official said. The girl’s mother, Pushpa Ahirwal, said treatment is continuing and that staff are no longer asking for money. Activists, however, said the case underscores the exclusionary impact of the MAA scheme’s requirement of a Jan Aadhaar card as proof of Rajasthan residency to avail free inpatient (IPD) services at govt hospitals. According to the mother’s account shared with hospital authorities, she did not have a Jan Aadhaar card and was not covered under the scheme, after which the hospital asked for Rs 50,000 towards treatment expenses. Health groups said the Jan Aadhaar condition effectively blocks access for migrant workers, refugees, homeless people and nomadic communities living in Rajasthan who may lack residency proof or identity documents. Chhaya Pachauli, coordinator of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), said the organisation would take up the issue with the state govt. “Making the Jan Aadhaar card mandatory for all patients to receive free IPD services is an extremely concerning step and should be withdrawn immediately,” Pachauli said. Activists said the govt’s rationale for the rule is to reduce the burden of patients coming from other states but argued it fails to account for Rajasthan’s large migrant workforce. Pachauli said many workers employed in brick kilns, construction sites, factories and industries contribute to the state’s economy but cannot obtain Jan Aadhaar cards because they are not permanent residents, leaving them outside the MAA scheme. An SMS Hospital official said, “Since there is a govt provision to charge treatment costs from patients coming from other states, we cannot provide free treatment to them under the MAA yojana.”
