New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) SEHAT scheme via video-conferencing to extend health insurance coverage to all residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The scheme will ensure universal health coverage, and focus on providing financial risk protection and ensuring quality and affordable essential health services to all individuals and communities,” according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The scheme will provide free-of-cost insurance cover to all residents of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and will extend financial cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family on a floater basis, the PMO said.
Nearly 229 govt hospitals and 35 private hospitals have been listed under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
After launching the scheme which will benefit 21 lakh eligible people, PM Modi interacted with two beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat scheme.
While interacting with a cancer patient, the Prime Minister said, “Ayushman Bharat has made your life ‘ayushman’. I urge you to tell everyone you meet about this scheme and its benefits.”
“This is a historic day for J&K. Every person of J&K will get benefits of Ayushman Bharat scheme. I wanted to launch this scheme yesterday on the occasion of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary. Atalji had a special connection with J&K, which is now prospering on his way of ‘Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat,’” PM Modi said.
Commenting on the recently held District Development Council elections in J&K, PM Modi stated, “Jammu and Kashmir has won Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of ‘gram swaraj’. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have voted for strengthening democracy in the state. People of all walks of life came out and voted for development in DDC elections.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Union Territory’s Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, also spoke on the occasion.
Lauding the leadership of PM Modi, lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha said 10,70,000 farmers have been benefitted by Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. “From August last year, there has been a new wave of development in Jammu and Kashmir,” the L-G said listing out the new development projects in the Union Territory.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Today is a very significant day for J&K. This is being launched a day after Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary. Everyone is aware of Vajpayeeji’s sentiment for Kashmir.”
“The scheme is in force everywhere. But everywhere else, it is only meant for the poor. J&K is the first place where all residents will be able to reap the benefits of this scheme,” Amit Shah added.
-CHK
