Ayushman Bharat, micro-credit welfare schemes for wider beneficiaries: President Murmu addresses Parliament

President Droupadi Murmu made two announcements while addressing both houses of Parliament on June 27.

She said the poor, youngsters, farmers and women were the four pillars for the foundation of Viksit Bharat (developed India) and that her government has prioritised to ensure that every citizen receives its benefits.

Addressing the joint session of Parliament on the 18th Lok Sabha session and the first since the general election results on June 4, she said that India has made commendable progress in the past 10 years in various sectors to climb from being the 10th to the 5th biggest global economy in the world.

Highlighting the achievements of her government, she announced that Ayushman Bharat scheme would now be expanded and will extend to citizens above 70 years of age, who can also get free health treatment. She said that 550 million Indians have benefitted from the scheme so far. 

Also known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), the scheme provides healthcare facilities to economically vulnerable Indians.

She also announced that the PM SVANidhi Yojana, a micro-credit facility for street vendors, will now increase its ambit to street vendors in rural and semi-urban areas. The scheme offers working capital loans up to Rs 10,000 for a year. 

Murmu said that many welfare schemes rolled out in the past decade have helped citizens from different sectors. 

“Small farmers, co-operative sectors and others have benefited from different schemes. PM Kisan Sanman Nidhi has distributed Rs 3.20 lakh crores to farmers,” she said, adding that Rs 30 crores of other funds have been transferred for Kharif farmers and ensured minimum support price for produce, which has helped to achieve record growth. 

She added that India is taking steps, considering the present needs and making changes in the agriculture sector. It has implemented policies towards self-sufficiency in terms of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) by reducing exports in cereals and oilseeds and increase farmer income. 

She said that policies and decisions have been strategised in directions that will reduce dependence, help farmers and meet the demands of the global food market. 

Murmu added that considering the increase in demand of organic food, India has encouraged natural farming and established production supply chain to empower farmers helping them reduce expenses and increase income.

She added that considering climate change, India has taken measures towards hydrosecurity, sustainable agriculture and even celebrated the International Year of Millets in 2023, to promote and export in other countries. 

The president mentioned that India is working towards achieving climate change targets by encouraging renewable energy before its deadlines. She also spoke about the Net Zero efforts that are being taken to inspire other nations. Murmu said efforts are being taken towards creating ‘green future, green jobs, green mobility’. 

The government has taken efforts and made investments in the past to make Indian cities clean, pollution-free and creating best working and living spaces, she added.

For youngsters, she said, a supportive startup environment has been created to underpin their growth. She said that India is becoming a leader in health, logistics and service sector, which is helping to provide employment and create opportunities for self-employment. 

For the poor, the President noted, the government is providing free ration to 800 million people of the country, which helped specially during the COVID-19 global health pandemic. 

Murmu said that the government has taken steps to empower and financially secure women. Self-help groups are offered financial help and women in agriculture sector are being trained to fly drones for becoming empowered and certified in advanced farming techniques. 

The ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme that provides Rs 1 lakh financial assistance to women in a year, free ration, Sukanya Samruddhi Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana for cylinders have benefitted women in saving money and earn interests, she added.

India is now focussing on making electricity bills zero under the Viksit Bharat concept, Murmu shared. More than 10 million people have registered under the Surya Ghar yojana, which involves installing solar panel on houses with an assistance of Rs 71,000 from the government, the President noted.

Schemes are devised to ensure welfare and social security for all sections of the society. “Under the PM Gramin Sadak Yojana, more than 300,000 roads of length 80,000 kilometres have been constructed in rural India, apart from the network of national highways and expressways constructed to connect different parts of the country,” she said.