Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 26, 2020, launched Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT to extend coverage to all residents of Jammu & Kashmir through video conference. Union Ministers Amit Shah, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Dr Jitendra Singh, and Lieutenant Governor of &K Manoj Sinha were present on the occasion.
The PM interacted with the beneficiaries from the region and recalled the special bond that Atal Bihari Vajpayee had with J&K and said that the former Prime Minister’s dictum of ‘insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat’ will always be there to guide us.
Talking about the Jammu and Kashmir Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT scheme, PM Modi said getting free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under this scheme would improve the ease of living. Right now about 6 lakh families of the state are getting the benefit of Ayushman Bharat Scheme. All 21 lakh families will get the same benefit after the SEHAT scheme. He added another benefit of this scheme would be that treatment is not limited to government and private hospitals in J&K only. Rather, treatment can be availed from thousands of hospitals empanelled under this scheme in the country, according to a PIB release.
The Prime Minister termed the extension of the coverage of Ayushman Yojna to all the residents as historic and expressed happiness seeing Jammu and Kashmir take these steps for the development of its people. He said that the development of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is one of the biggest priorities of his government. “Whether it is about women empowerment, opportunities for the youth, upliftment of the dalits, exploited and deprived or it is the question of the constitutional and fundamental rights of the people, our government is taking decisions for the welfare of the people,”PM Modi added.
The PM congratulated the people of J&K for strengthening democracy. He said the election to the District Development Council has written a new chapter. He complimented the people for reaching the voting booth despite the cold and corona. He said, that on the face of every voter in J&K, there was an expectation for development. He said that he saw the belief of a better future in the eyes of every voter in J&K. These elections in J&K also showed the strength of democracy in our country, the PM said.
One the other hand, the Prime Minister pointed out that despite the Supreme Court’s orde,r in Puducherry panchayat and municipal elections are not happening. This despite the fact that the tenure of those elected ended in the year 2011.
The PM said during the pandemic about 18 lakh LPG cylinders were refilled in J&K. More than 10 lakh toilets were built in J&K under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Its purpose is not limited to just building toilets, it is also an attempt to improve people’s health. Along with the rural road connectivity, efforts are on for providing piped water to every household in J&K within next 2-3 years, PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister said the setting up of IIT and IIM in J&K would help in providing quality higher education to the students here. He said two AIIMS and two cancer institutes are also being built in J&K. Paramedical students will also get training at these institutes.
The Prime Minister said the youth of J&K are easily getting loans and moving on the path of peace. The people who are living in J&K for many years are now getting domicile certificates. People of economically weaker sections in general category are getting reservation now and so are the hill dwellers and people living in border areas, he said.