Urges to create mass awareness about social welfare & social security schemes of GoI

Port Blair, June 6: The vision and goal of the Central Government under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is to help the poor people of the country & uplift their living conditions. The welfare schemes devised by the Central Government aims at uplifting the socio-economic status of the last mile beneficiaries by bringing them under the fold of such welfare & social security schemes, said the Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation GoI, General (Dr.) V K Singh (Retd.), while interacting with the beneficiaries of the social welfare schemes at DBRAIT auditorium here today.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister mentioned some of the schemes viz. PM Aawas Yojana, Ujjawala Yojana, Swanidhi Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana etc. and pointed that these schemes have been devised to improve the living condition, uplift economic status and help during medical treatment to respective beneficiaries.

Specifically mentioning about the Ayusman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana, the Minister stated that it was the vision of the Prime Minister that poor people should also get good treatment facilities in hospitals and nobody should be deprived of better treatment in hospitals. To achieve this goal, the Government has brought the PM Ayushman Bharat scheme in which Ayushman card is given and free treatment is provided to the ailing person.

The Minister, while listening to a beneficiary who availed the benefit under the Ayushman scheme and received financial assistance for surgery, urged him to propagate the benefits of the scheme in his neighborhood and society so that other people can also be benefitted by the scheme. He urged people to come forward on their own to avail the benefits of the schemes, and contact the concerned officers of the respective Departments if they face any difficulty in availing the social welfare & social security schemes.  The Minister, who also interacted with the beneficiaries of the social welfare schemes, urged them to create mass awareness about these social welfare & social security schemes so that more people can be brought under its fold. He expressed satisfaction that all the welfare schemes of the GoI are being implemented in A&N Islands in true spirit, benefitting the targeted beneficiaries.

During the interaction with the Minister, a beneficiary of the Mudra Yojana, Shri Balram Chuklu, a resident of Prothrapur informed that after availing loan through Mudra Yojana he was able to purchase an Autorickshaw of his own and now he is earning more than earlier. He thanked the Govt. of India for devising the loan scheme Mudra Yojana.   Another beneficiary of the Swatchch Bharat Mission Grameen, Ms. Rabina Khatoon, a resident of Gram Panchayat Mithakhari informed that under this scheme she received Rs. 12000/- through which she could construct a toilet for her family and feel more secured and dignified. She thanked the Govt. of India for devising the scheme Swatch Bharath Mission (Grameen). A beneficiary of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Shri K. Ramachandra Pillai, a resident of Mazar Pahad informed that he got free treatment for his surgery in Chennai. He thanked the Govt. of India for devising the scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

Another beneficiary Ms Arpita Singha Roy, resident of Babuline, Port Blair, a street vendor said that she got loan of Rs.10000/- under Swanidhi Scheme and started earning by putting up a shop on cart. Through this loan she is now able to lead a dignified life, Ms Arpita added. She thanked the Govt. of India for devising the Swanidhi Scheme.

Ms. P Kasturi, a resident of Atam Pahad was able to construct her own house as per her wish after receiving financial assistance under PM Awas Yojana (Urban). I was able to construct my house as per my design, said Kasturi thanking the Govt. for the assistance.

Apart from this, video clipping of the beneficiaries who received benefits through the social welfare schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (both Grameen & Urban), Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission (both Grameen & Urban), Jal Jeevan Mission, Pradhan Mantri SVANidhi Scheme, One Nation One Ration Card, Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre etc. also shared their views and thanked the Govt. of India. The benefits received under these schemes have improved their living conditions, the beneficiaries said.

The Adhyaksha Zilla Parishad South Andaman, senior officers of the A&N Administration and a large gathering of beneficiaries who were benefitted by different social welfare/social security schemes of the Govt. of India were present on the occasion.

In his address, the Secretary, RD, Shri Suneel Anchipaka informed that under Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojna, 700 patients from the islands were referred to mainland in the empanelled hospitals for specialized treatment while under Ayushman Bharat health and wellness center scheme, 129 HWCs made functional achieving the target set by the GoI. He further informed that under PM SVaNidhi Scheme, a collateral free special microcredit facility for street vendors, the first tranche loan was sanctioned to 480 while second tranche loan was sanctioned to 79 street vendors.

The Secretary further informed that under PM Aawas Yojana (U), two Land parcels measuring area about 2.65 hectare has been set-apart for construction of houses. The Implementing Agency (NBCC) has awarded the tender amounting to Rs.123.20 Crore and work has started. He also informed in detail the assistance/benefits provided to the beneficiaries under, PM MVY, PMAY (G) SBM(G),One Nation One Card, PM Ujjwala Yojna, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna, PM Kisaan Samman Nidhi Yojna and PM MUDRA Yojna. The Secretary also welcomed the chief guest of the function.

The interaction programme concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Director RD, Shri. Deepak Pundir.

Later, the Minster visited Health & Wellness Centre, Rangachang and saw for himself the facilities available there for the people. He also interacted with the women practicing yoga at the Health &Wellness Centre.

Thereafter, the Minister visited Rangachang School and interacted with the students learning computer. He also visited the craft room and was impressed by the craft items prepared by the students.

Later in the evening the Minister visited the National Memorial Cellular Jail. He also visited the ‘Veer Savarkar Cell’ and paid his obeisance to the great patriot of the Motherland. The Minister also witnessed the Light & Sound Show in the Cellular Jail premises.