Hi,
I need a flat for rent as my office is near St Xavier College (Park Street)
My requirements are -
3BHK (1000+ sqft)
Car parking
Preferably gated society
Budget - within 25k (unfurnished)
Avoid - Tiljala; Park Circus; Kasba areas.
Preferable - Phoolbagan, Maniktalla, Khanna (I don’t want to commute more than 20kms one way)
Hi, IREDA shows dividend on my AIS/TIS but it was credited to my account on April 15, 2026. It has increased the Dividend amount pre-filled in the ITR2 file but it was not the actual dividend receipt for the year.
Should I report the dividend without IREDA in Schedule OS?
TL;DR: West Bengal is migrating to the national Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) scheme starting July 2026. While it offers national portability (using it outside WB), it is not universal like Swasthya Sathi. It is restricted by age (70+) or strict socio-economic criteria (SECC 2011). Many middle-class families previously covered by Swasthya Sathi risk losing their safety net. We need the government to clarify if state-only coverage will continue for those who don't qualify for national PM-JAY.
There is a lot of noise regarding West Bengal signing the MoU to implement the national Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) scheme, and what happens to our existing Swasthya Sathi cards.
The biggest takeaway from the official policy documents is that while the goal is migration and national portability, the eligibility criteria are fundamentally different. We need to talk about the "catch" that isn't being widely discussed.
I’ve made this simple comparison image (attached) to highlight the exact definitions causing the confusion.
The Key Difference (Simplified):
Swasthya Sathi: Was UNIVERSAL. Almost every family in West Bengal was eligible, irrespective of their income or social status. It covered the gap for the middle class.
PM-JAY: Is TARGETED. Eligibility is strictly restricted by the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC 2011) data or specific "vulnerable" occupational groups (like manual laborers or street vendors).
Why this is a "Catch" for us:
If you previously had a Swasthya Sathi card, but you are a private professional or a family that doesn't fit the strict "deprivation" criteria of a 15-year-old census, you are likely not automatically eligible for the national PM-JAY scheme.
The only exception is if your parents are 70 years or older—they are covered regardless of income. But for everyone else under 70, the strict rules apply.
We need clarity on how the West Bengal government will bridge this gap. Are the thousands of middle-class families previously protected within the state going to lose their safety net entirely?
The benefits we had under Swasthya Sathi for treatment within the state must continue, even for those who do not qualify for the national portable PM-JAY criteria. We can't let national portability come at the cost of universal local coverage.
Keep your Swasthya Sathi cards safe for now; the database migration is supposed to start in July 2026.
What are your thoughts on this policy shift?
TL;DR: West Bengal is migrating to the national Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) scheme starting July 2026. While it offers national portability (using it outside WB), it is not universal like Swasthya Sathi. It is restricted by age (70+) or strict socio-economic criteria (SECC 2011). Many middle-class families previously covered by Swasthya Sathi risk losing their safety net. We need the government to clarify if state-only coverage will continue for those who don't qualify for national PM-JAY.
There is a lot of noise regarding West Bengal signing the MoU to implement the national Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) scheme, and what happens to our existing Swasthya Sathi cards.
The biggest takeaway from the official policy documents is that while the goal is migration and national portability, the eligibility criteria are fundamentally different. We need to talk about the "catch" that isn't being widely discussed.
I’ve made this simple comparison image (attached) to highlight the exact definitions causing the confusion.
The Key Difference (Simplified):
Swasthya Sathi: Was UNIVERSAL. Almost every family in West Bengal was eligible, irrespective of their income or social status. It covered the gap for the middle class.
PM-JAY: Is TARGETED. Eligibility is strictly restricted by the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC 2011) data or specific "vulnerable" occupational groups (like manual laborers or street vendors).
Why this is a "Catch" for us:
If you previously had a Swasthya Sathi card, but you are a private professional or a family that doesn't fit the strict "deprivation" criteria of a 15-year-old census, you are likely not automatically eligible for the national PM-JAY scheme.
The only exception is if your parents are 70 years or older—they are covered regardless of income. But for everyone else under 70, the strict rules apply.
We need clarity on how the West Bengal government will bridge this gap. Are the thousands of middle-class families previously protected within the state going to lose their safety net entirely?
The benefits we had under Swasthya Sathi for treatment within the state must continue, even for those who do not qualify for the national portable PM-JAY criteria. We can't let national portability come at the cost of universal local coverage.
Keep your Swasthya Sathi cards safe for now; the database migration is supposed to start in July 2026.
What are your thoughts on this policy shift?
This is the 4th hike within 2 weeks.
Why are they doing this? Why not increase the price in a single shot to whatever price they want to reach?
I knew this was gonna happen. This soon wasn’t expected.
Lastly, wherever there is pollution, we have seen over the last 15 years in Bengal, in Kolkata and Asansol, that garbage is lying everywhere and is not being cleaned. Now this responsibility is also being given to the public through geotagging. We have developed an app where people can send geotagged pictures, and within two hours the corporation or municipality will come and clean the area. But along with this, I also need the cooperation of the public. We should not throw garbage on the roads. Prevention is better than cure. Of course, cleaning is our responsibility, but we must also remain conscious about littering on roads...
Let’s see how this app pans out. Hopefully there’s no cobra effect of this app.
Am I the only one who is watching the oath taking ceremony of any Chief Minister for the first time?
Ngl, the whole arrangement feels like a full out festival. I could see everyone from BJP leadership present on stage. What energy!!
The last paragraph is the reason why people voted for BJP!
It was much needed after all the hooliganism by some people.
I've just had conversation with few political observers here in AP. While I am a greenhorn, they are seasoned people who have spent ~20+ years in politics, either as political workers or political reporting or in any other way. I was just a fly on the wall, sitting in corner and listening to them all.
They themselves get inputs from their long term friends back in WB or acquaintances that go back to Bengal in some way or the other. One of them has a friend who works with ABP (Anand Bazar Patrika). They've mentioned lot of other names too but they are all new to me and couldn't remember.
The elections of WB are being watched with great interest in AP. Anyway, according to our people, TMC is going to make a comeback again, probably with slightly diminished mandate. And BJP will increase its vote share and seats but not nearly enough to form the govt. The prediction from here is TMC : 160, BJP : 110.
What would be your estimate? How do you see the return of TMC, IF it happens?
Lastly, I should say that if any of you are considering moving out of your state for any purpose - education, employment or Medical issues, do consider our Telugu states Telangana or Andhra Pradesh. I believe Telugu people are most positive about Bengalis for historical reasons. You should consider our states to be your second home and I am sure you'd feel welcome here.