“The Government of India will set up a financial aid fund for the poor suffering from life threatening diseases. In its first year, the government has allocated approximately US$20 .392m to the fund known as Delhi Aroyaga Kosh (DAK). This initial investment will be deposited at a nationalized bank. In its second year, financial aid will be given from the interest earned on the initial allocated amount. Eligible applicants for funds will be people living below the poverty line, those who have an Antodya ration card, or those who make up to INR100,000 (~US$2,000) per year.

“The Supreme Court of India gave private Delhi hospitals the mandate to administer free treatment to poor patients referred to them by government institutions. This arrangement would be in effect until private hospitals and the government are able to form a common policy on free treatment to poor patients. Until the policy is put in place, the Court has ordered hospitals to maintain a separate account of incurred expenses of treating poor patients. The Court has also asked private hospitals to submit proposals on free treatment immediately.”

Implications from IFTF:

Providing labor regulations to support the poorest workers who are often left vulnerable to exploitation from their employers is a challenge throughout the globe. Naya Javeen in Pakistan has a novel solution.

“Naya Jeevan is a new venture launched in Pakistan in 2007 to cover a particular segment of the poor—household staff such as cooks, drivers, maids and gardeners—who are in the employ of their well-heeled countrymen who work for multinational corporations.