Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to announce the launch of the world’s largest government-funded healthcare programme in his Independence Day speech at Delhi’s Red Fort on Tuesday.
The Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Scheme will assures a health insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year to 500 million poor and vulnerable persons. Once it takes off, Ayushman Bharat will be the world’s largest public-funded health insurance programme, and if implemented successfully, would be the biggest achievement of the Modi government across sectors.
Here are live updates about Narendra Modi’s speech:
Major Aditya, rifleman Aurangzeb to get Shaurya Chakra
Major Aditya Kumar, who was embroiled in a controversy after his unit fired on a stone-pelting mob in South Kashmir’s Shopian in January leading to death of three persons, is among 20 armed forces personnel named for the Shaurya Chakra award.
Rifleman Aurangzeb, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir and was brutally killed by militants in Pulwama in June when he was on his way home for Eid, will also be conferred the third highest gallantry award.
PM Modi receives suggestions for his August 15 speech
The Prime Minister has received thousands of suggestions for his August 15 speech after he asked people to send him ideas, a practice he has followed since the last few years, on several platforms including the Narendra Modi app.
High security in Delhi
Nearly 70,000 officials of Delhi Police are guarding the national capital and close to 10,000 personnel have been deployed at the Red Fort, where senior ministers, top bureaucrats, foreign dignitaries and common people will be present during the Prime Minister’s address.
Commandos take over Red Fort
The Mughal-era Red Fort has been put under a heavy security cover along with other critical areas in the national capital. Sharpshooters will also be stationed on rooftops in the cluttered streets around the fort while helicopters will fly overhead.
A special team of snipers and commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) will form the inner layer of the security cordon at the Red Fort with anti-aircraft guns deployed to thwart drones and projectiles, senior police officials told PTI.
Source: HindustanTimes