Modi slams Patnaik govt for rejecting Ayushman Bharat scheme

Talcher/Jharsuguda (Odisha): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for rejecting the Centre’s flagship Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme for the poor and alleged that a “PC” (percentage commission) culture has become the state government’s identity.
Addressing two public meetings in Talcher and Jharsuguda, Modi said Odisha lagged on Swachh Bharat campaign parameters and Patnaik should improve the level of cleanliness in the coastal state.
“Everyone is aware of the importance of Ayushman Bharat scheme, but Naveen Babu does not understand. Odisha government should come forward and join the programme,” Modi said. The prime minister is set to launch the programme countrywide from Jharkhand on Sunday. The scheme aims to provide Rs 5 lakh health insurance coverage per family annually to more than 10 crore poor households.
The Odisha government has not joined the central scheme, saying it has introduced a better programme, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, in the state.
Modi said because of the state government’s decision, a large number of poor people in Odisha would be deprived of the benefits of Ayushman Bharat scheme, which, he added, aims to create a healthy, capable and content new India.
“Once again, I publicly urge Naveen Babu to link people of the state with Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme which seeks to cover 10 crore poor families and effectively 50 crore people in the country,” he said.
At the public meeting in Talcher after commencing work for the Rs 13,000-crore coal gasification based fertiliser plant, the prime minister said the Odisha government lagged on Swachh Bharat campaign parameters.
Noting that rural cleanliness in Odisha was only 10 per cent in 2014, Modi said it has increased to 55 per cent but a lot more was needed to be done.
Stepping up his criticism of the BJD government ahead of assembly polls and parliamentary elections next year, Modi alleged that a “PC” (percentage commission) culture and delaying decisions have become the identity of the Odisha government resulting in the state’s tardy development. (PTI)