Chhattisgarh: PM Modi launches ‘Ayushman Bharat’, credits Ambedkar for India's growth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first health centre under Ayushman Bharat Scheme here today. He also inaugurated the first phase of the Bastar Internet scheme under which a 40,000-km-long network of fibre optics cable would be spread across the seven districts of the tribal region.

Modi is the first prime minister to visit tribal district Bijapur, one of the most backward regions of the country but has started doing well on various development parameters.

Addressing the gathering PM said "Today is a very important day for the country's hundred crore people. Today Bharat Ratan Baba is the birth of Bhimrao Ambedkar Jayanti. Today is the opportunity to come between all of you and seek blessings."

Hailing BR Ambedkar's contribution for India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "If there is a prime minister in India, it is because of Babasaheb's contributions."

"If Bijapur can see development in 100 days then why can't the other districts witness the same? I came here to assure you that with all the development projects now Bijapur district will no longer be known as a backward district," he said.

"Our government is committed to the dreams and aspirations of people from all sections of the society. "I have come here to remove the backward tag attached to Bijapur," he asserted.

"The first phase of Ayushman Bharat scheme has been started, in which efforts will be made to make major changes in primary health-related areas. In every major panchayat of the country, sub centers and primary health centers will be developed as a health and wellness center in about 1.5 lakh places," he said.

It may be mentioned that the Ayushman Bharat has twin missions.

First, creating a network of health and wellness centres to deliver comprehensive primary healthcare close to the community, and second, providing insurance cover to 40 per cent of India's population, that is most deprived, for secondary and tertiary care, including for instance, hospitalisation costs.

Bijapur along with Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh) and Mewat (Rajasthan) were among the 115 aspirational districts, which have shown noteworthy achievement in the last three months on three parameters - incremental performance, best action plan and best practices.

"The prime minister would be interacting with people, local 'Champions of Change' including officials of the district administration, who despite all odds and being at the epicentre of Left Wing Extremism have performed very well, especially post the launch of Aspirational District programme on January 5, 2018," the Niti Aayog CEO said.

Modi in January this year had said that he will personally visit the aspirational district, which will show the most noteworthy performance on identified parameters.

The Centre has embarked upon a major policy initiative for rapid transformation of districts that are lagging on specific development parameters.

OneIndia News (with PTI inputs)