To mark the occasion of 75th Independence Day, PM Modi as well as Chief Ministers of various states have made prominent announcements regarding different initiatives for the citizens.
To begin with, PM Modi in his eighth consecutive address from Red Fort, outlined a roadmap for new India. He rolled out a landmark Rs 100 lakh crore “Gatishakti” initiative to boost infrastructure and employment opportunities. In the next 25 years, Modi aims at making India glorious with “new thresholds, aspirations, and dreams.”
Modi also talked about the challenges of terrorism and expansionism that the country is fighting with great courage. He asserted, “India has given a stern signal to its enemies by conducting surgical and airstrikes. This tells us that India is changing and can take the most difficult decisions and isn’t reluctant to implement them.”
Just like PM Modi, many states of India have also come with assertive plans for the betterment of the country.
Smart Health Cards to come up in Odisha
The Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik announced that his government will give smart health cards to around 3.5 crore smart health cards to its local population. By doing so, Odisha will become the first state in the country to provide such smart health cards. The initiative will cover around 96 lakh families in a phased manner under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. Beneficiaries of national and state food security schemes, and Annapurna and Antyodaya initiatives will get the cards under which women can avail treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per year, and other family members will get the benefit up to Rs 5 lakh each.
While delivering a speech during the Independence day celebration, Patnaik said that the initiative will usher in a new era in the state’s health sector. He further added, “News like people selling land and valuables or dropping their children out of schools to manage their treatment costs pains me. Hence, I have decided to take away such distress and provide hassle-free treatment to people at best available health care facilities.”
Free water in Goa
Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced that the state will provide free tap water to all the residents of the state from September this year. Addressing the free water scheme, Pramod Sawant in his speech on Independence day said, “Residents will be provided 16,000 liters of water free of cost per month. The free water scheme will be implemented from September this year.”
Punjab will get protection from Pakistan’s nefarious designs
The Chief Minister of Punjab, Amarinder Singh, has promised to protect the state against Pakistan’s “nefarious designs”. After unfurling the flag, Singh also pledged to continue fighting for the farmers to repeal the Centre’s farm laws.
Calling for extreme surveillance against Pakistan, he said, “We want peace but will not tolerate any aggression or attack on our territory. Any threat to Punjab will mean danger to entire India. We will teach them (Pakistan) the lesson of their lifetime if they try to be adventurous.”
Delhi will get ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum in schools
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has again set a model of governance. On the occasion of 75th Independence Day, he announced the launch of the ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum in government schools from September 27 and yoga classes in residential areas from October 2.
The ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum will be a homage to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. “This will be an activity-based course in which the school children will be taught how to contribute to the development of the country and discharge their ‘Surya’ and be ready to sacrifice even their lives for the nation,” Kejriwal said. In his address at the Delhi Secretariat, Kejriwal paid tribute to freedom fighters as well as to doctors, nurses, and paramedics who lost their lives while treating people during the coronavirus pandemic.
All kinds of celebrations for Independence Day in various states were organized with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.
