On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Ayushman Bharat Yojana provides older folks’ dignity and peace of mind in addition to providing them with free medical treatment.

Speaking to a sizable crowd in Varanasi, Prime Minister Modi spoke about his experience giving out Ayushman Vaya Vandana Cards to senior persons.

“I got the chance to give Ayushman Vaya Vandana Cards to a number of the elderly here only a short time ago. The biggest achievement of this plan, in my opinion, was the look of pleasure on their faces,” he remarked.

“Everyone is aware of the tension surrounding treatment for the elderly,” he remarked, highlighting the changes in healthcare institutions around the area. Prior to the last ten years, Purvanchal’s medical facilities were in a well-known state. Today, things are different. My Kashi is becoming a hub for wellness.

“Your residences are now near to the major hospitals in Delhi and Mumbai. When individuals have access to amenities, this is real progress. In the last ten years, we have improved patient dignity in addition to expanding the number of hospitals. For the less fortunate siblings, the Ayushman Bharat programme is nothing short of a blessing. In addition to medical care, this programme fosters trust,” he said.

The Prime Minister went on to say that the programme had helped thousands of people, especially in Varanasi and Uttar Pradesh.

“After receiving your blessings for the third time, we made an effort to repay you with our service. I promised to provide free medical care to the elderly. That pledge led to the creation of the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana. In addition to providing medical treatment, our programme aims to protect our elderly folks’ dignity,” he said.

“Every older family member over 70, regardless of income, is now eligible for free medical care. Almost 50,000 Vaya Vandana cards have already been given to senior citizens in Varanasi alone. This number is more than simply a statistic; it is evidence of the work done by a public worker, PM Modi said.

“At this point, don’t stress about the cost of medical care. The Prime Minister promised that the government will now handle it.

Additionally, PM Modi commended Purvanchal area animal caretakers, particularly women, for serving as role models.

He praised Banas Dairy’s work in Varanasi and its role in empowering women via the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ campaign. He called the incentives a “gift” for their hard work and complimented the dairy workers on receiving them.

“A lot of Purvanchal ladies are now Lakhpati Didis thanks to Banas.” This progress is being seen throughout the country,” he added, adding that farmers and animal keepers are responsible for India’s current position as the world’s biggest producer of milk.

“The country’s farmers and livestock caretakers deserve this triumph. It took time for it to happen. We have been striving to improve the dairy industry for the last ten years by helping animal keepers, expanding loans, and providing Kisan Credit Cards,” he said.

According to the ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ goal, PM Modi also addressed the free animal immunisation programmes. He emphasised the Rashtriya Gokul Mission’s role in the government’s efforts to develop and unify the dairy industry.

“We want to bring animal keepers into the mainstream of development and progress,” he said.

He pointed out that Banas Dairy now has more Gir cows and that it currently purchases milk from about one lakh Purvanchal animal caretakers.

During his 50th visit to his parliamentary seat for the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi laid the cornerstone for development projects of Rs 3,880 crore.

In order to improve the region’s rural and urban infrastructure, he also announced and started 44 projects. It is anticipated that these improvements would update vital services, increase connectivity, and greatly improve public amenities for Varanasi residents.