Virtually kicking off the BJP’s campaign for the next Lok Sabha election from his home State Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday sought to woo women by ‘gifting’ them new houses.

In all, 1.15 lakh houses have been constructed in Gujarat at a cost of ₹1,727 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), with the government’s aim of Housing for All by 2022, the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.

He said quality houses were being constructed under the scheme as the villagers themselves have been involved, rather than government contractors.

Addressing a public meeting at Valsad in South Gujarat after handing over the keys to these women beneficiaries — the residential units have been registered in their names — Modi said this was a humble “gift” from a brother to his sisters to mark the festival of Raksha bandhan festival (on Sunday). Using satellite communication, he collectively inaugurated the house warming ceremony in 26 districts.

Healthcare centres

He also said 1.5 lakh Arogya Dhams (healthcare centres) will be set up in six lakh villages across te country from September 25 with the launch of Ayushman Bharat on the birth anniversary of the late Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.

“Now, each rupee that is sent from Delhi, goes in toto to the last beneficiary,” he said, referring to the then PM Rajiv Gandhi’s comment in the 1980s that only 15 paise, out of a rupee, actually reached the beneficiaries.

Focus on infrastructure

While e-laying the foundation stone of a ₹586-crore water supply scheme for the benefit of 60 lakh people in 175 tribal villages, the PM said it would make life easier for women who were forced to fetch drinking water for their families from faraway places.

Later, after dedicating a ₹250-crore civil hospital at Junagadh, Modi said the Ayushman Bharat Yojana (National Health Protection Scheme, or ‘Modicare’), to be launched on September 25, will benefit 10 crore families (50 crore people), which is about the total population of the US, Canada and Mexico or Europe.

The government will foot the healthcare bills for serious ailments of the members of these families up to ₹5 lakh per annum.

The infrastructure to be set up for the ambitious scheme will also attract FDI, roll out a huge healthcare network and create job opportunities for many.

Low-cost medicines

Already, the scheme’s pilot projects were rolled out on August 15.

Modi said the government intended to open a medical college and an attached hospital between every three Lok Sabha constituencies and then in all the districts of the country.

The government’s initiative to provide affordable medicines through the Jan Aushadhi Kendras had reduced healthcare bills by 70-80 per cent in many families.

Citing a WHO report, he said the cleanliness drive has saved lives of three lakh children.

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