on Independence Day chief ministers of different states also rolled out different initiatives for the citizens to mark the occasion.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced that his government will provide smart health cards to 3.5 crore people in the state under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. Beneficiaries of national and state food security schemes, and Annapurna and Antyodaya initiatives will get the cards under which women can avail treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per year and other family members will get the benefit up to Rs 5 lakh each
News like people selling land and valuables or dropping their children out of schools to manage their treatment costs pains me. Hence, I have decided to take away such distress and provide hassle-free treatment to people at best available health care facilities,” he said. Noting that the initiative will cover 3.5 crore people in 96 lakh families in a phased manner, Patnaik claimed that Odisha is the first state in the country to provide such smart health cards.
GOA’S FREE WATER
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced that the state will provide free tap water to all the residents of the state from September this year. While delivering a speech on the 75th Independence Day on Sunday, Pramod Sawant said residents will be provided 16,000 litres of water free of cost per month. The free water scheme will be implemented from September this year, he said.
The announcement by CM Pramod Sawant comes days after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal promised to provide free electricity to Goans if voted to power in the next assembly election.
PUNJAB
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has vowed to protect the state against the “nefarious designs” of Pakistan and said, “we want peace but will not tolerate any aggression or attack on our territory”. Any threat to Punjab will mean danger to entire India, he underscored. Addressing the people of Punjab after unfurling the tricolour here on the occasion of the country’s 75th Independence Day, Singh also pledged to continue fighting with the farmers for the repeal of the Centre’s farm laws.
Calling for extreme vigil against Pakistan, he said, “We want peace but will not tolerate any aggression or attack on our territory.” “We will teach them (Pakistan) the lesson of their lifetime if they try to be adventurous,” he added.
DELHI
Delhi has emerged as a model of governance, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said announcing the launch of ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum in government schools from September 27 and yoga classes in residential areas from October 2. In his Independence Day address at the Delhi Secretariat, Kejriwal paid homage to freedom fighters as well as to doctors, nurses and paramedics who lost their lives while serving people during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Delhi government schools will start teaching ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum from September 27 as a tribute to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, he said. “This will be an activity-based course in which the school children will be taught how to contribute to the development of the country and discharge their ‘surya’ and be ready to sacrifice even their lives for the nation,” Kejriwal said.