In her first address to the joint sitting of Parliament as the Budget session began, President of India Droupadi Murmu noted that the government has been working to empower the poor and eradicate poverty. She described the government as “decisive,” where no policy paralysis slows decision-making. She added that the Amrit Kaal, i.e., 25 years towards the centenary of India’s independence is around the corner when India would see “no poverty and a happy and satisfied middle class”. She said that the period is the time to build an India, which is ‘aatmanirbhar’ (self reliant) and also fulfils its humanitarian obligations.
The government’s Ayushman Bharat and Jan Aushadhi schemes have helped the poor in the country with the two initiatives alone providing assistance to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore, the President said on January 31. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana has saved crores of poor people from becoming poorer, preventing them from spending Rs 80,000 crore. “Today, medicines are being made available at very low cost in about 9,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras spread across the country. As a result, about Rs 20,000 crore of the poor have been saved in the past few years.”
The President said that India’s self confidence is at its highest and it is providing solutions to the world. India has a stable, fearless and decisive government that is working towards realising big dreams.
