"POOR people who can't afford to mop up enough resources will now have no problem getting their critical diseases cured," said Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi here Thursday.

Addressing a large congregation of Congress workers from all over the region at the Kasturchand Park ground here, Sonia described the new Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana of the Maharashtra government as "Aai" (mother). She said: "People's problems are our problems. Poor people have to often sell their valuables, including house, for treatment. Now, with the state government taking that responsibility, they will not have to worry any more."

Sonia announced that the state government had also launched a pilot scheme in Satara and Sindhudurg districts where transfusion patients could get blood at one phone call. "They are calling it Jeevan Amrut Yojana. Just dial 102 and the blood will immediately reach you," she said.

Earlier, Sonia formally launched the health insurance scheme, under implementation in eight districts on pilot basis since last year, for state–wide coverage.

She handed over health cards to a few beneficiaries on the occasion. The cards will facilitate free surgeries of 971 different kinds, including kidney and heart operations, costing up to Rs 1.5 lakh for 2.11 crore potential beneficiaries in the state (with annual income up to Rs 1 lakh) at any of the empanelled private and government hospitals.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said: "The Congress had done politics of people's rights. All the programmes like Right to Information, forest rights, food security etc are aimed at giving people their rights." He added: "Very soon, we will also launch schemes offering blood, ambulances, X–ray, MRI etc."

NCP leader and Union Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel lauded the government for its pro–people schemes.