Haryana’s government has launched an expanded health insurance scheme on June 5, 2025, targeting rural workers under the Chirayu Haryana initiative. The program extends coverage to families earning up to ₹5 lakh annually, offering ₹5 lakh per family for hospitalization. This move aims to benefit over 1 crore rural workers, enhancing healthcare access and financial security.
Haryana’s Bold Step to Secure Rural Workers’ Health
On June 5, 2025, the Haryana government unveiled a significant expansion of its Chirayu Haryana health insurance scheme, a state-specific extension of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). The initiative now includes rural workers and their families with an annual income of up to ₹5 lakh, a substantial increase from the previous threshold of ₹1.8 lakh. This policy shift is set to cover over 1 crore rural workers, including agricultural laborers, construction workers, and other informal sector employees, ensuring they have access to quality healthcare without financial strain.
The expanded scheme provides a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across more than 715 empanelled hospitals in Haryana, including 539 private and 176 government facilities. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while launching the initiative in Panchkula, emphasized the government’s commitment to universal health coverage, stating that the program would alleviate the burden of medical expenses for rural families. Health Minister Arti Singh Rao highlighted that the scheme’s expansion aligns with the state’s vision to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and ensure no one is left behind.
The Chirayu Haryana scheme targets rural workers identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011, with additional provisions for those registered on the e-Shram portal. Eligible beneficiaries, such as landless laborers and other manual workers, can access cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals with no waiting period for pre-existing conditions. The state has streamlined the registration process, requiring only an Aadhaar number for enrollment, making it accessible even for those with limited literacy.
Officials from the Haryana Health Department noted that the scheme’s expansion is supported by a robust network of Common Service Centres (CSCs) at the Gram Panchayat level. These centres facilitate awareness campaigns and assist with beneficiary authentication, ensuring rural workers can easily avail of the benefits. The initiative also includes provisions for free diagnostic services and medicines at empanelled facilities, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for rural households.
The expansion comes as part of a broader push to enhance healthcare access in Haryana, with the state government allocating significant funds to improve medical infrastructure. For instance, the upcoming AIIMS in Rewari, set to be inaugurated soon, will further bolster healthcare services in southern Haryana. The state has also empanelled 39 healthcare institutions in Gurugram alone under the Chirayu program, with plans to extend similar facilities across all districts.
This move has been lauded by rural workers’ unions, who see it as a critical step toward financial security. Ram Kumar, a construction worker from Hisar, shared, “This scheme will help us afford treatment without borrowing money or selling assets.” However, challenges remain, including raising awareness among rural communities and ensuring seamless integration with existing health schemes. The government has pledged to address these through targeted Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns.
The Chirayu Haryana expansion is part of a larger national push to include informal sector workers, such as gig workers, under the Ayushman Bharat umbrella, as announced in the Union Budget 2025. Haryana’s proactive approach sets a precedent for other states, reinforcing the importance of inclusive healthcare policies for the rural workforce.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information available from government announcements, official health department websites, and credible news sources as of June 5, 2025. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, readers are advised to verify details with official sources for the most current information.