Madhya Pradesh: PM Modi Launches National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission In Shahdol Ahead Of Polls

PM Modi on Saturday said that the government has resolved to get rid of sickle cell anaemia in India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Source : PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission and said sickle cell anaemia will be eradicated from India in mission mode by 2047. The Mission aims to address the pressing health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among the tribal population. Speaking in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol, PM Modi said: "Today, the country is taking a big resolution on the land of Shahdol. This resolution is to get rid of the disease of sickle cell anaemia. Our government is committed to the welfare of tribal sisters and brothers. The launch of 'Sickle Cell Anaemia Mukti Mission' in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh will bring a significant change in their lives." 

"Half of the sickle cell anaemia cases are in India, but unfortunately no substantial steps were taken in the last 70 years to eradicate the disease. Previous governments didn't think about the tribal people, who were the worst affected by the disease," PM Modi said.

He further slammed the previous Congress governments for ignoring the issues of the tribals in Madhya Pradesh. "The social media posts of those (opposition parties), who want to come together, are getting viral these days. These opposition parties are only uniting to promote dynastic politics," PM Modi said. "The earlier governments were insensitive & disrespectful towards tribal society & the poor...when it came to making a tribal woman the President, we saw the behaviour of many parties...When the Central Tribal University was opened in Shahdol division, they named it after their family, while the Shivraj government named Chhindwada University after the revolutionary Raja Shankar Shah. We named the lines of the Patal Pani Station after Tantia Mama," he said.

He said that the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme had saved Rs lakh crore worth of medical bills of the poor in India. He said 50 crore people had benefitted from the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission was announced in the Union Budget 2023. This will be implemented in 278 districts of 17 high-focused states in the country namely Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, and Uttarakhand, the release said.

Moreover, PM Modi also kickstarted the distribution of about 3.57 crore Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards in Madhya Pradesh. 'The ceremony for the distribution of Ayushman cards is being organised at Urban bodies, Gram panchayats and Development Blocks across the state. The Ayushman card distribution campaign is a step towards realising the Prime Minister's vision of reaching out to every beneficiary to ensure 100 per cent saturation of welfare schemes," a Prime Minister's Office release stated.

During the programme, Prime Minister Modi honoured Rani Durgavati, who was the ruling queen of Gondwana in the mid-16th century. She is remembered as a brave, fearless and courageous warrior who fought for freedom against the Mughals, it stated.

PM Modi said, "The 500th birth anniversary of Rani Durgavati is on October 5. The Indian government will commemorate it throughout the country. A film will be made based on her life, and a silver coin honouring Rani Durgavati will be released. The government will also issue a postal stamp commemorating Rani Durgavati...We will launch a campaign to bring her inspiration to every home in India. Madhya Pradesh will reach new heights of development...," he was quoted as saying by ANI.

In a unique initiative, Prime Minister will also visit Pakaria village of Shahdol district at around 5 pm and interact with leaders of the tribal community, Self-Help Groups, leaders of PESA [Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996] committees and Captains of Village Football Clubs, PMO added.

Earlier on June 27, PM flagged off five Vande Bharat Express trains from the Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Bhopal.

Subscribe And Follow ABP Live On Telegram: https://t.me/officialabplive