Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Every elderly person above the age of 70 years will be brought under the ambit of Ayushman Yojana
Further strengthening the PM Fasal Bima Yojana through more technological interventions to ensure speedy and more accurate assessment, faster payouts and quicker grievance resolution
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking to come back to power for the third consecutive time, outlined his party’s- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- commitment to make India a global hub for every emerging sectors including insurance.
He was releasing the BJP’s manifesto – Sankalp Patra – at party headquarters today for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
In BJP’s manifesto, he envisioned a future where India will be the hub for – Green Energy, Pharma, Electronics, Automobile, Semiconductor, Innovation, Legal, Insurance, Contracting, and Commercial sectors.
This is for the first time any political party in the country has talked about making India an Insurance Hub in its election manifesto.
The NDA government, led by PM Modi, has already set up an International Financial Services Centre(IFSC) in the GIFT City of Gujarat along with the International Financial Services Centre Authority(IFSCA), a unified regulator with a holistic vision in order to promote ease of doing business in IFSC and provide world class regulatory environment.
The main objective of the IFSCA is to develop a strong global connect and focus on the needs of the Indian economy as well as to serve as an international financial platform for the entire region and the global economy as a whole.
Besides, the current Modi government, in expectations of being re-elected in the general elections, has also drawn up an extensive legislative plans for its first 100 days, which include pending key amendments to various Insurance Acts. The reforms in the insurance sector will enable composite insurance license, differential minimum capital and captive insurance.
PM Modi emphasized the BJP’s focus on strengthening India’s foundation for the 21st century through three types of infrastructure: social, physical, and digital. This includes building new educational institutes, upgrading transportation networks, and expanding digital connectivity.
Stressing the BJP Sankalp Patra’s aim to lead the country towards self-reliance, Modi said, “Whether it’s the defence sector, edible oil, or energy imports, how long will India depend on other countries?
Today, the BJP’s major focus is on green energy and energy self-sufficiency. This involves blending ethanol in petrol, green hydrogen, renewable energy, gobardhan, biofuels, and accelerating progress in all sectors. It will generate a large number of green jobs in the country. We are also witnessing a rapid increase in the market for electric vehicles in the country.”
Among other agenda, the BJP’s poll manifesto has listed the following-
-Making India the third-largest economy in the world,
-Every elderly person above the age of 70 years will be brought under the ambit of Ayushman Yojana. Inclusion of all senior citizens in Ayushaman Bharat,
-Periodic review of National floor wages,
-To launch an Emergency And Trauma Care Mission to provide immediate and effective care to trauma patients,
-To expand the Jan Aushadhi Kendra network.
-Amrit Kaal Civil Aviation Master Plan to transform airports into regional international hubs.
– Further strengthening the PM Fasal Bima Yojana through more technological interventions to ensure speedy and more accurate assessment, faster payouts and quicker grievance resolution,
-Further strengthen and expand the insurance coverage available under PM Matsya Sampada through more technological interventions to ensure speedy and more accurate assessment, faster payouts and quicker grievance resolution,
-Onboarding of auto, taxi, truck and other drivers on e-Shram portal and ensure 100% coverage of all drivers under insurance and other welfare programmes,
-Launching affordable insurance products for small traders and MSMEs to protect them from accidents like fire, theft, natural disasters etc.
-Expansion of the existing health services, focusing on prevention and reduction of anaemia, breast cancer, cervical cancer and osteoporosis, ensuring a healthy life for women.
-Launching a focused initiative to eliminate cervical cancer,
Measures to eliminate sickle-cell anaemia.
“Affordable medicines with an 80 percent discount will continue to be available at Jan Aushadhi centers. Modi assured that free treatment under Ayushman Bharat, up to ₹5 lakh, will remain accessible. The biggest concern of the elderlies is that how will they afford treatment of their ailments. This concern is even more serious for the middle class. BJP has now taken the ‘Sankalp’ that every individual above 70 years of age will be brought within the purview of Ayushman Bharat Yojana,” the PM said.
Speaking about those who have been overlooked, PM Modi said, “Transgender individuals have also been neglected in the past. The BJP has now decided to include transgenders in the ambit of the Ayushman Bharat scheme.”
Ayushman for Senior Citizens
-Expanding the Ayushman Bharat Yojana to cover Senior Citizens and provide them access to free and quality healthcare,
-Introducing a National Senior Citizens portal to honour the wisdom and experience of elders by providing them with a platform for sharing their stories, insights and knowledge,
-Delivering Government Services at doorstep,
-Ensuring seamless access to social security benefits and other essential government services to senior citizens by leveraging the extensive reach and reliability of the postal and digital network,
-Providing senior citizens with comprehensive training in using UPI and other online payment methods, while also educating them on how to recognize and avoid digital scams.
Social Security through Post Offices and Digital India
After successfully implementing social security insurance schemes like PM Jeevan Bima and Suraksha Bima for unorganised workers, BJP manifesto has promised integrate all such schemes and use the post office and Digital India network to provide comprehensive social security cover for accident and life insurance. It will use
digital technologies for easy enrollment and seamless payment.
Coverage of workers in e-Shram
After registering unorganised workers on the e-Shram platform, the new government will reach out to the eShram registered shramik bandhu and help them avail the benefits of various government programmes that they are eligible for, said the manifesto.
Onboarding Gig workers on e-Shram
The future BJP government will work with platforms for registration of Gig workers on eShram and reach out to such shramik bandhus(friends) to help them avail the benefits of various programmes that they are eligible for. It will reach out to migrant workers and empower them to avail benefits of various programmes that they are eligible for.
Modi highlighted India’s leadership in Women-Led Development, emphasizing the efforts made over the past decade to empower women and provide them with opportunities.
He remarked, “With 10 crore women joining self-help groups, they will now receive training in various sectors like IT, education, health, retail, and tourism. Additionally, Modi aims to increase the number of Lakhpati didis from 1 crore to 3 crore. Through the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme, women in every village will become drone pilots, supported by the government with drone provisions.”
Emphasizing the efforts in poverty alleviation, PM Modi stated, “The BJP government has demonstrated lifting 25 crore people out of poverty over the past 10 years. However, they continually need stability, or else there is a risk of falling back into poverty. With this mindset, the BJP has also committed to expanding several poverty alleviation schemes. Modi guarantees that the free ration scheme will continue for the next 5 years. We will ensure that the meal on a poor person’s plate is nutritious, satisfying, and affordable.”