Junagadh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated/perform ground breaking for around Rs 500 crore development projects in a public function at Junagadh.

The Prime Minister in his speech remembered Shri Narsinhbhai Padhiyar of Junagadh, a BJP leader who passed away recently. He also inquired about wellbring of veteran local folk artist Bhikhudan Gadhvi who was present in the function.

Speaking about his today morning function in South Gujarat, the Prime Minister said, ‘I was in Valsad today morning and I had opportunity to travel through Gujarat using technology. Ahead of Raksha Bandhan, lakhs of families, so many sisters entered into their own houses today. I had opportunity to speak to them. More than the satisfaction of getting house, I could see confidence to live life and do something in their faces and in that I could see the Gujarat of tomorrow.’

Further speaking on his moring visit to South Gujarat, the Prime Minister in his Junagadh addresss said, ‘today in tribal area of Gujarat, I launched a scheme. When I was Chief Minister, ten seperate projects(in the area of water supply to tribal areas) were planned, this was one of them. I recalled Gir Forest in my Valsad speech. Whenever there’s an election, one polling booth of Gir area would be in discussion in the media, as it has only one voter for whom polling booth would be set up. In tribal area of Valsad, there’s a hill which is taller than famous hill-station Saputara. There are 200-250 houses in this village. We decided to lift water from Madhuvan dam and supply it to the height equal to a 200-storey building so that those 150-200 houses get water.’

Speaking on his Junagadh programme, the PM said, ‘there are about 9 programmes here in Junagadh, 5 for inauguration and 4 for ground-breaking. The function involves inauguration and ground breaking of around Rs 500 crore projects in one hour. This is living example of change the nation is witnessing.’

‘Today here, I observed the feeling of joy among people when just a picture of the hospital inaugurated today was shown on screen. We asked a question and saw a dream for Gujarat: why each district of Gujarat should not have medical college? In 9 years 8 major hospitals and colleges have been set up. The total number of medical seats has been up from 1000 in 2001 to 4000 now. The dream of tomorrow’s healthy Gujarat is part of this development.

The Prime Minister spoke about Jan Aushadhi scheme of Central government.

He said, ‘The government has taken several initiatives that were not taken in last 70 years in health sector. Shri Mansukh Mandaviya is present here. His department is working on Jan Aushadhi Kendra programme. Families, especially middle-class families would have five-six members and generally, at least one of the family members, mostly above 60 age would need to take pills everyday. This would result into monthly Rs two to three thousand medicine expenses. In Jan Aushadhi Kendras, pills that are available for Rs 300 commonly would be available for Rs 30. Middle class family would have monthly saving of 70 to 80% when it comes to medicines. ‘

PM said, ‘Recently there was a WHO (World Health Organization) report which suggests that just due to cleanliness, 3 lakh children can be saved from death in India. Cleanliness campaign is directly linked to health. Some people made fun of our campaign and raised question, whether Prime Minister should get involved into making of toilets and sweeping the streets. I want to say that if this foundation work was done earlier in the past, my country would be healthier today. We saw dream of achieving open defecation free India on 50th anniversery of Mahatma Gandhi and we are marching ahead in this direction.’

PM speaking about Ayushyaman Bharat Yojana said its trial run has been launched on15th August. As it is a technology linked project,district level work has been started on experimental basis district. It will be launched on 25 September. Under this scheme, as many as 1.5 lakh wellness centres will come up across the country. They will be modern compared to existing PHC, CHC. Wellness centres will have digital connectivity, online consultaion facility and also preventive healthcare facility. There are 6 lakh villages and one and half lakh such centres planned. It means good healthcare facility will be available in range of 10-12 km.

He said, Ayushyaman Bharat will benefit 10 crore families in the country which comes to around 50 crore people which is equal to population of America, Canada and Maxico combined or entire population of Europe. Upto Rs 5 lakh cost for operation, hospitalization for each beneficiery family will be beared by the Government of India. Common man will no more need to bear debt or take money on interest.

He siad, this will need more hospitals. Not common hospitals but modern ones like that we inaugurated in Junagadh today. In tire two and three towns or small towns, entire chain of new hospitals will be needed. This will create opportunities for para medical staff, nurses, technicians, doctors and huge investment.

Speaking in reference to inauguration of Sorath Junagadh District Cooperation Milk Producer Federation’s new milk processing plant today, the Prime Minister said, in the past there were governments that had made rule that Kutch and Saurashtra would not get dairies. We decided to set up dairies there and in last ten years dairy activity has gained boost here. Dairies from Gujarat have started working in Uttar Pradesh too. In Banaras, a dairy from Gujarat is functional now and thanks to that, farmers are getting one and half time more or double payment for milk they produce.

PM also spoke about government’s target to double the income of farmers by year 2022. He said, ‘economics are not ready to listen to me and say it’s impossible, but those passimistic will never be ble to do any good.’

PM also spoke about his government’s decision to give one and half time minimum support price to farmers and ongoing work on 99 irrigation schemes that were lying on paper or not moving ahead during previous governments.

DeshGujarat