Will continue to push for AIIMS and CGHS expansion in North Bengal, says Darjeeling MP Raju Bista

Member of Parliament from Darjeeling and BJP National Spokesperson, Raju Bista addressed the 1st Triennial General Meeting of the CGHS Beneficiaries Welfare Association June 28 highlighting the Narendra Modi-led government’s sweeping healthcare reforms and infrastructure investments in the region.

Speaking at the gathering, Bista outlined the transformative growth in India’s health sector over the past decade. “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s leadership, the health budget has nearly tripled from Rs 37,000 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1 lakh crore by 2025-26,” he said. He also emphasized the impact of Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY), which now provides coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year and aims to benefit nearly 40 crore citizens by next year.

Bista cited significant reductions in out-of-pocket health expenses from 62% in 2014 to an estimated 38% in 2025 resulting in household savings of over Rs 1.25 lakh crore. He also praised the role of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in providing affordable medicines, noting savings of Rs 38,000 crore for citizens. The number of AIIMS institutes has also seen a major jump from 6 in 2014 to 23 by 2025, marking a robust expansion of tertiary care facilities across India.

Turning his focus to North Bengal, Bista drew attention to critical infrastructure projects such as the NH-717A to Kalimpong, the Sevoke-Rangpo rail line, the Siliguri-Gorakhpur Expressway, and the upcoming Bagdogra Airport terminal. “More than ₹65,000 crore worth of Central Government infrastructure projects are currently underway in our region,” he noted, with Rs 222 crore earmarked for upgrading health facilities in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri and Uttar Dinajpur, and Rs 150 crore allocated for a Critical Care Unit at NBMCH.

Bista highlighted that CGHS coverage; once limited to only 25 cities has expanded to over 80 cities under Modi’s tenure. Regions like Darjeeling, Siliguri, and Jalpaiguri now benefit from CGHS services for the first time, fulfilling a long-pending demand from government employees and pensioners.

However, he acknowledged that challenges persist in remote areas, particularly regarding the availability of CGHS services. “I am actively pushing for a dedicated CGHS office, more wellness centers, and additional empaneled hospitals in our region,” he stated. He also reaffirmed his long-standing demand for an AIIMS in North Bengal to strengthen tertiary healthcare access.

The event was attended by Siliguri MLA Dr. Shankar Ghosh, CGHS Beneficiaries Welfare Association President Gurudas Das, prominent doctors, beneficiaries, and local citizens, reflecting strong community support for the initiatives being discussed.