Srinagar, Dec 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT to extend coverage to all residents of J&K. Union Ministers, Amit Shah, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Dr Jitendra Singh and Lt Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha were present on the occasion.

 

The Prime Minister also interacted with the beneficiaries from the region. He also recalled the special bond that Atal Bihari Vajpayee shared with Jammu and Kashmir and said that the Former Prime Minister’s dictum of ‘insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat’ will always be there to guide us.

 

Talking about the J&K Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT scheme, the Prime Minister said getting free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under this scheme would improve the ease of living. Right now about 6 lakh families of the state are getting the benefit of Ayushman Bharat Scheme. All 21 lakh families will get the same benefit after the SEHAT scheme.

 

He added another benefit of this scheme would be that treatment is not limited to government and private hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir only. Rather, treatment can be availed from thousands of hospitals impaneled under this scheme in the country.

 

The Prime Minister termed the extension of the coverage of Ayushman Yojna to all the residents as historic and expressed happiness seeing Jammu and Kashmir take these steps for the development of its people. PM Modi said that the development of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is one of the biggest priorities of his government.

 

“Whether it is about women empowerment, opportunities for the youth, upliftment of the dalits, exploited and deprived or it is the question of the constitutional and fundamental rights of the people, our government is taking decisions for the welfare of the people”, the Prime Minister added.

 

He said during the pandemic about 18 lakh LPG cylinders were refilled in Jammu and Kashmir. More than 10 lakh toilets were built in Jammu and Kashmir under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.