PM Modi slams Naveen govt for ignoring scheme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a diatribe against the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government in Odisha for giving a cold-shoulder to 'Ayushman Bharat Yojana', a centrally sponsored health insurance scheme.
Modi, who is all set to roll out the scheme on September 23 in Jharkhand, was visibly piqued at the Odisha government's decision to snub the initiative, which he believes could benefit millions in the state.
Addressing a huge rally at Talcher city, Modi asked the people why they should not avail of such a beneficial scheme.
"Shouldn't the Odisha government come forward and join the scheme?" he asked a rapturous gathering.
Dilating on the benefits of Ayushman Bharat, the PM said, "The programme will benefit 100 million families. Around 500 million people can profit from the initiative. The number of beneficiaries outstrips the population of the US, Canada and Mexico combined. I have known people falling into the debt trap because of medical exigencies. Through this scheme, I want to save such families." “Most states are establishing a connect with the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Unless your government joins it, I cannot serve you. But Naveen babu doesn't understand," Modi rued, exhorting the CM to join the initiative. Odisha has been caught in the crosshairs of the Modi-led government for rebuffing the health insurance scheme. Instead, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in the state has come up with its own health assurance programme - Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojanaunveiled on August 15. The state government has fiercely defended its universal health scheme, arguing that it bettered the Centre's. The ambit of the state scheme was wider, covering seven million families, compared to the 6.1 million envisaged by the Centre. The scheme, nonetheless, is constrained as beneficiaries could avail treatment only inside the state and at government-run institutions.
Modi visited Talcher on Saturday to kick off the revival of the gas-based fertiliser plant in Talcher, shut since 1999. He exuded confidence that the plant would restart in 36 months, and he would make it to the venue again to dedicate the project to the nation. The Centre is investing ~130 billion in the project, powered by coal gasification technology, thereby shrinking dependence on imports.