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Ayushman Sahakar (2020) enables cooperative societies to access NCDC loans (up to 90% of project cost) for healthcare infrastructure, with a 1% interest rebate for women-majority cooperatives.

The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), a statutory body set up under an Act of Parliament in 1963 and functioning under the Ministry of Cooperation—notified the Ayushman Sahakar Scheme in 2020. The scheme aligns with the National Health Policy, 2017 to expand affordable, community-owned healthcare through cooperative institutions.

Objectives

• Provide affordable and holistic healthcare via cooperative hospitals, healthcare and education facilities.
• Promote AYUSH services through cooperatives.
• Enable participation in the National Digital Health Mission (digital health/ICT integration).
• Support comprehensive healthcare including services, education, insurance, and allied activities.

Coverage: Activities & Infrastructure

The scheme supports creation, modernization, expansion, repair, and renovation of healthcare infrastructure, including:

• Hospitals; Medical/AYUSH/Dental/Nursing/Pharmacy/Paramedical/Physiotherapy colleges (UG/PG)
• Yoga wellness centres; Panchkarma/Unani regimental therapy centres
• Elderly care, palliative care, disability services, mental healthcare
• Emergency/trauma centres; physiotherapy; mobile clinics
• Diagnostics, laboratories, blood banks, ophthalmic & dental centres
• AYUSH pharmaceutical manufacturing & drug testing labs
• Maternal & child health; RCH services
• Telemedicine, remote procedures, digital health ICT
• Health insurance (IRDAI-accredited)
• Margin money & working capital for day-to-day operations

Eligibility

• Any Cooperative Society registered under a State Act or the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, with healthcare/health education provisions in its bye-laws.
• Financial assistance provided after technical and financial appraisal to ensure long-term viability.

Financial Architecture

Nature of Assistance

• Term/Investment loans (as per actual project requirement).
• Loan tenure up to 8 years, including 1–2 years moratorium on principal (project-dependent).

Interest Incentive

• 1% interest rebate for the entire tenure to cooperatives where women members are in majority, subject to timely repayment.

Funding Pattern (Illustrative)

• Through State Govt. route:
  • NCDC → State Govt. → Society
  • Loan up to 90% (infrastructure); Society share ~10%
• Direct funding (NCDC → Society) (as per direct funding guidelines):
  • Loan up to 70% (or structured mix with share capital)
  • Society share ~30%
• Margin Money: Up to 100% loan (subject to assessment).
• Working Capital: As per requirement (loan).
• Loan quantum may be reduced proportionately if dovetailed with subsidy/grant/VGF of GoI/States/other agencies.

Security Options

• Mortgage of assets (incl. project assets) up to 1.5× loan
• Govt./PSU/Statutory body guarantees
• Pledge of FDRs or assignment of Govt. securities (≈1.2× loan)
• Bank guarantees, as acceptable to NCDC

Institutional Context

• NCDC: Apex statutory institution (1963) to promote cooperative principles in production, processing, marketing, storage and services; assists cooperatives at Primary, District, and Apex/Multi-State levels.
• Scheme details and implementation update were shared in Parliament by the Union Minister for Home and Cooperation.

Significance for Governance & Health

• Cooperative Federalism: Decentralizes healthcare delivery via grassroots cooperatives.
• Community Ownership & Accountability: Participatory governance model in health services.
• Boost to AYUSH & Integrative Care: Expands traditional systems alongside allopathy.
• Digital Health Enablement: Supports ICT, telemedicine, and insurance integration.
• Gender Incentivization: Financial rebate encourages women-led cooperatives.