Modi launches health schemes, says its not poll gimmick

Modi launched the Mukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana, which provides poor patients with health protection cover up to Rs 2 lakhs

What the state Congress is promising ahead of assembly polls, is being delivered by the Narendra Modi led government, claiming that it was not poll gimmick.

On Tuesday chief minister Narendra Modi launched two health schemes for the poor and inaugurated the Gujarat Medical Services Corporation (GMSC).

The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) had promised last week similar health schemes for the poor and middle as part of their 12-point Gujarat People's Development Vision. Last month the Congress had promised low cost houses for the urban poor if voted to power.

The BJP government had countered this promise of the opposition party by reviving the Gujarat Housing Board (GHB) after over a decade and announcing launch of low cost housing projects in four cities of the state.

Modi, on Tuesday, launched the Mukhyamantri Amrutam Yojana, which provides poor patients with health protection cover up to Rs 2 lakhs. He also inaugurated the Gujarat Medical Services Corporation (GMSC).

The Congress had promised similar scheme and formation of GMSC if brought back to power in the assembly polls later this year.

In addition the chief minister also launched ‘Khilkhilat’ (Giggles) scheme which celebrates the homecoming of infants and mothers after the delivery.

While announcing the new health schemes in Gandhinagar Modi clarified that these initiatives, worth Rs 200 crore, were are not 'instant' schemes.

"It is not as if they appeared all of a sudden. They have been accounted for in this year’s budget," Modi said.

Launching a veiled attack on the state Congress party Modi said, "While Gujarat is shining, others are getting sore creating bankruptcy of ideas among many sections. Being an election year, everything is seen through the prism of politics due to which knowledge of many good initiatives fail to reach the people."

He assured the people that these schemes were not mere announcements and said that work culture in the state had made a qualitative difference in ensuring better health facilities for the people.

"When the rich fall ill, there are lines of doctors outside their homes but the same is not the case with the poor. That is why the government has taken these steps, to ensure the best health of each and every citizen of the state," Modi claimed. He assured the poor that even in their worst illness, the government was with them.

On the Corporation for Medical Services, the chief minister clarified that too was accounted for in the budget.

The chief minister also spoke about how latest technology was being used in creating smart cards that will enable the poor of the state avail health care treatment.