HON’BLE UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ensuring Healthcare For All
In a major Cabinet reshuffle in May 2023, Union Minister Professor S.P. Singh Baghel was given the charge of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. A member of Bharatiya Janata Party, he was elected to 17th Lok Sabha from Agra. During his tenure, the minister wants to take forward the good work undertaken by the Ministry under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“MORE THAN 220 CRORE COVID-19 VACCINE DOSES HAVE BEEN GIVEN. DURING THE PANDEMIC, SCIENTISTS MADE A VACCINE WITHIN EIGHT MONTHS, WHICH WAS ACCEPTED BY WHO AND APPRECIATED BY THE WORLD – THAT IS OUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT!”
“MODI JI HAS SAID THAT 2023 IS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MILLETS. SO, WE SERVED THE G20 GUESTS OUR OWN MILLET… THE GRAINS THAT WERE ONCE LOOKED DOWN UPON AS “COARSE GRAINS” HAVE NOW BEEN CALLED SHREE ANNA”
Q. Sir, please share your views on Ayushman Bharat Scheme, and “Health Care for All” under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Modi ji.
A. Among the Top 10 major good things that happened after independence include programmes like ‘Kisan Samman Nidhi’, where 5 kg wheat or rice is free, and other schemes like Prime Minister’s urban housing, gas cylinder, and the widow, disabled, old age pension. The people who come to our homes for recommendations for toilets worth Rs. 20,000, who would have expected them to be able to get treatment in Medanta or Apollo? That’s why the Prime Minister Jan Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Bharat schemes are noteworthy. The scheme provides Rs. 5,00,000, per person per family per year for treatment. Earlier, these people were unable to get proper medical care, even if they had a viral fever and needed medicines for only 5 days. Today, these labourers are being treated in good hospitals because of the Prime Minister.
Another important welfare programme of Independent India has been MNREGA, where crores of workers get jobs for 100 days, and are paid Rs.250 daily. Today, people of other political parties sometimes ask us what we are giving from our pocket. We ask them if it was mandatory to give houses, then why didn’t 12-13 Prime Ministers give it? Toilet was necessary, as everyone saw the women defecating on the road. So why didn’t they build toilets? They saw the poor making bread on the stove, with iron, with wood, with coal, then why was the cylinder not given?
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had seen everyone dying due to lack of treatment, so why did schemes like Ayushman Bharat not implemented? Why was a farmer not supported by Kisan Samman Nidhi when his crop was destroyed by excessive rain or no rain or fire, hail, frost, or fog? Today, we are proud to say that under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi ji, 4,54,00,00,000 people have been admitted to the hospitals and more than 1,59,00,000 health centres are built.
More than 9,304 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are also being set up. The Jan Aushadhi Kendra is where one can get generic medicines, where one can save up to 30 percent to 85-90 percent. We feel that the media can help us in promoting such initiatives by making people aware of them.
More than 5,00,00,00,000 mothers and children have got the protection of vaccines under Mission Indradhanush. I have lost two siblings, because in those days, polio, smallpox, malaria, diphtheria, and plague used to pose a big threat to the life of the mother and the child. Either the child was at risk, or the mother was at risk. So, the vaccination in Indradhanush Yojana will keep the children healthy. One must also keep in mind that only a healthy mother can give birth to a healthy child, and a healthy child will have a healthy brain and can build a healthy nation. So, with these health schemes, we are building a healthier nation.
Under Modi ji’s leadership, 15 new AIIMS have been built in 9 years. More than 3,00,00,000 citizens have taken cheap medicines from Amrit Pharmacies. More than 220,00,00,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given. This is a world record! More than 1,00,00,000 vaccinations were done simultaneously on Modi ji’s birthday. During the pandemic, under the leadership of Modi ji, scientists made a vaccine within eight months, which was accepted by WHO and appreciated by the world – that is our biggest achievement!
We believe in Hindu mythology that says nectar emerges in the churning of the ocean, but this nectar was developed by our scientists under the leadership of Modi ji. And I consider this the biggest achievement. The history of vaccine development is that it is made after 8 to 12 years of research.
However, our COVID-19 vaccine was made in eight months, as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji personally motivated the scientists. Knowledge exchange is the biggest achievement of the century.
Similarly, more than 37,00,00,000 digital health IDs were created. Now, there is digitization in every field. Through PM Cares, 50,000 ventilators have been provided in the country. Its age would have been 2-4 years, but our fund has given ventilators and oxygen plants during a difficult time. We do not know when which variant will happen, but the country is ready to face it under the guidance of Modi ji.
Similarly, you must have observed that we used to make zero PPE kits; now, we make 20,00,000 kits per day. The Prime Minister called upon private vendors and told them to come to this area as well. More than 1,500 PSA plants have been approved by the Central Government to evade any emergency in future. In other initiatives, there have been 50,00,00,000 tele-consultations. Now, people even get to treat their colds, flu, and fever in big hospitals. Many medical colleges have been opened in 9 years. Now, the target is to have one medical college in every district. There are no medical colleges in the small districts made from big districts, for example, Hathras, which was formed from Aligarh. There is no Medical College in Hathras.
PSC has been upgraded to CSC. Today, there are so many oxygen plants built in every district hospital that there will be no shortage of oxygen in case of any national calamity, accident or anything else.
Q. Hon’ble Minister Sir, we would like to know your views on India’s recent G20 presidency and its philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, One Family, One Earth, One Future.”
A. Our forefathers, our Babas, Mahatmas, Shankaracharyas, had said this long ago. Then, there are many good things said in Vedas, Upanishads, Hymns, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta. These texts mention ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah.’
Modi ji has done the work of bringing it down on the ground. Under ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ we must understand that if any country pollutes a lot, it will lead to climate change and compromise the ozone layer, posing danger to the whole planet. Modi ji has said that if India is developing, then the world is developing, as we have the largest population in the world.
Many years ago, once we became a representative in the Commonwealth Nations, I remember a conference took place where Kenneth Kaunda, Robert Mugabe, Julie Cisneri, and Yasir Arafat had come. All of them came from the Palestine Liberation Organization, some agreements were made, some exchanges took place.
Today, there is a summit in every state and in all our cities. It has happened in Agra and it had an impact. If you had visited Agra before G20, and if you go to Agra now after G20, you will see a changed Agra, because we have done work from the airport and railway stations to the hotels. I drove a golf cart for 17 km one day and took my DM, SP, VCD, and Municipal Commissioner, where we discussed what should happen there, what should be reduced or increased. The efforts and suggestions have helped Agra become green and clean. Similarly, G20 will have an impact on 75 other cities as well.
When the G20 meeting took place recently in Srinagar, at Lal Chowk, we held a meeting with top ministers from 20 countries of the world and everything went on very smoothly. This will eventually boost tourism, as the visiting ministers will post this on social media, encouraging their followers to visit and see Dal Lake, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
Ever since globalisation, liberalisation and privatisation happened, the world has become one, but social media has also united it. So, when those people see this post, they will be curious. We will go there and tell stories about the folk language, folk food, and folk dress. In Gujarat, the G20 delegates saw Garba, in Tamil Nadu, they saw Bharatanatyam, in Banaras, they saw Kathak, in Assam they saw Bihu, in Karnataka they saw Kuchipudi, in Odisha they saw Odissi, and they saw colourful dresses and our hospitality. All this happened under the leadership of Modi ji.
To every guest, we present ODOP (One District One Product) as a gift. For example, when one came to Agra, we presented gifts of stonework and leather work. Secondly, Modi ji has said that 2023 is the International Year of Millets. So, we served the G20 guests our own millet, maize, sorghum, ragi, kodo and kangni. With millets, health will be good, and calories will be less. The grains that were once looked down upon as “coarse grains” have now been called Shree Anna by Modi ji. With Shree Anna, one is keeping healthy, and farmers are getting remunerative prices for their produce. Nowadays, organic farming is also being practiced widely.
Q. Currently, the country is celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence this year and today you got the opportunity to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament House. We feel that it is a matter of great pride for every Indian! Please share your thoughts.
A. Today is the pinnacle of pride for 140 crore Indians. The new Parliament is wonderful! Amazing but true that it was built in 28 months only. Its second highlight is the inclusion of India’s civilisation, culture and spirituality. Our national bird peacock has been glorified there and there is lotus flower – our ancient flower – in Rajya Sabha. Apart from this, the federal system has been considered. It has marble from Rajasthan, teakwood from Maharashtra, and carpets from Bhadohi and Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. With the work of weavers of every caste and religion being used, it has led to their better economic condition. Modi ji has built the second temple of democracy, and I congratulate him for this. This is important keeping in mind our rising population, as the number of Members of Parliament will increase. There were 542 MPs in the election of 1952 and 542 in the election of 2024 and from the Lok Sabha of 3,00,000 has become the Lok Sabha of 30,00,000, so definitely it has more seats for the MPs. In today’s world, paperwork has been made paperless. Then, the second mic is very good, the direction is very comfortable. When I became an MP in the Lok Sabha for the first time, 26 years ago, I was a junior. I used to sit at the back. In the same calculation, there are 16 people. The eighth number is the input, so eight people had to remove their microphones or get up. The new Parliament takes care of these gaps. It is comfortable and has centralized air conditioning. When Sher Shah Suri built GT Road, many people protested, saying that the road spoiled their wheat and gram crops, but today, the road is our lifeline. I believe the same is applicable to today’s scenario as well. Nonetheless, I extend many congratulations to Modi ji for building the new Parliament. Veer Savarkar spent the best 20 years of his youth bringing freedom to the country. Parliament is the temple of democracy. On his birthday, the Prime Minister dedicated the Parliament to the nation. I would like to congratulate him on this achievement.
Q. Sir, what’s your message for AsiaOne’s Greatest Brands & Leaders TV series?
A. As you know, 75 percent of our trade is going on globally in G20, which also has two-thirds of the population of the world and 85 percent of the GDP. This year, we are presiding over about 20 big economies of the world, and your series is also going to big countries. Through you, we can reach the world by taking our country’s civilization, culture, religion, production, spirituality, and cleanliness. I would like to congratulate and extend my best wishes to AsiaOne Magazine for its wonderful job, especially in business, healthcare and all the other contemporary topics that you publish in the magazine. The leaders whose success stories are published in the magazine, whether they are role models of business or leadership in other fields, industrialists or belonging to the Chamber of Commerce and other industries, are inspirational for people.
