'Modi first Indian PM to experience poverty': Lekhi

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Meenakshi Lekhi on Saturday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's welfare schemes and said that the latter is the first Indian Premier who went through poverty himself.

"There were no bank schemes for Indians living below poverty line but the Prime Minister introduced schemes which will help them to have their own bank accounts. Nobody worked for 'Garibi Hatao' before. Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian who went through poverty by himself and is trying hard to help all the people at large," said Lekhi.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi launched the 'Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojana', 'Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana' and the 'Atal Pension Yojana' in Kolkata.

While the 'Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana' (PMSBY) and the 'Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana' (PMJJBY) will provide insurance cover in the unfortunate event of death by any cause or disability due to an accident, the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) will address the income and security needs of the aged.

The convenient delivery mechanism of the schemes is expected to address the problem of a very low penetration of life or accident insurance and old age income security products in the country.