Patients from the economically weaker sections in Jharkhand will be able to avail themselves of a cashless treatment facility of up to Rs 25 lakh at the Tata Medical Centre-Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Calcutta.

The decision was taken by the Jharkhand cabinet on Friday evening. This makes Jharkhand the only state in the eastern part of the country to bear medical expenses up to Rs 25 lakh for the treatment of cancer.

“I have been meeting cancer patients from across the country and learning about their pain and struggle. I had recently met Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren and apprised him about the Rajasthan government’s scheme that bears medical expenses for cancer treatment up to Rs 25 lakh. I am grateful that the chief minister has accepted my suggestion. There is no other state in eastern India that bears medical expenses more than Rs 10 lakh for cancer cases,” said Ranchi-based journalist Ravi Prakash (associated with the BBC), who is battling fourth-stage lung cancer.

In May, an agreement was signed between the Jharkhand State Arogya Society and the Tata Medical Centre, Calcutta during the inauguration of Ranchi Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. Under the agreement, patients in Jharkhand belonging to the economically weaker sections would get a cashless facility for cancer treatment at Tata Medical Centre. But the expense covered under that pact was only Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat and the Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

However, the cabinet on Friday changed the finance regulation and empanelled all kinds of cancer under the Mukhya Mantri Gambhir Bimari Upchar Yojana (Chief Minister Critical Illness Treatment Scheme), which will now allow an additional Rs 20 lakh to be included in the medical expense. The additional expense will be borne by the state government, enabling a cancer patient to get financial support of Rs 25 lakh from the state.

Among other decisions, the cabinet has approved the Eklavya Prashikshan Yojana regulations.

“This will make candidates aspiring to get coaching to prepare for UPSC, Jharkhand Public Service Commission, bank and railway jobs get the benefit of free coaching. The government will bear the entire coaching expense,” Jharkhand cabinet secretary Vandana Dadel said.

The cabinet also cleared the Mukhya Mantri Siksha Protsashan Yojana (CM Education Encouragement Scheme) regulations under which the government will bear coaching expenses for candidates preparing for competitive exams in engineering, medical, fashion designing, mass communication, hotel management, chartered accountant and the ICWA sector.

In another important decision, it has been made mandatory for paramedical students to serve in state hospitals for a year after they pass out or pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The government has also decided to bear the expense (nearly Rs 13 crore) for hosting the women’s Asian hockey championship trophy in October this year in Ranchi.

The government has also announced that it will provide 1 kg of pulses at Re 1 per month to each family under the Food Security Scheme.