Parliament: Prez Kovind applauds BJP government's policies

New Delhi: President Ramnath Kovind, on Thursday addressed both the Houses of Parliament before the Budget session, and praised the Modi-led central government for its excellent work.

The final budget or interim budget of the Modi government's tenure will be presented on Friday. Piyush Goyal will present the budget in the absence of ailing Arun Jaitley.

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President Ramnath Kovind said in his address that the government had dreamt of a new India. Before the 2014 election, the country was passing through a phase of uncertainty, but since the BJP government has came to power, it took a pledge to build a new India. He said the decision of a corruption free India has been taken and lots of measure have been implemented to curb it. Whereas, in every village the government has tried to achieve its goals, with the dream of development, the opportunity of employment to all, education to all, and complete these targets, the government has prepared its plans.

Kovind also said that his government not only understands the pain of common public but also has given priority to provide them basic amenities. In addition, it has done unprecedented work by redefining the plans. He said that the lack of toilet facilities pushed our daughters to live an undignified life, but now 9 million toilets have been constructed.

He said that we have decided to make the country clean by October 2 this year. He also alleged that due to the use of earthen wood stoves our sisters and daughters used to get sick, but the government has given more than 60 million gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme, bettering the lives of our females. After decades of efforts, only 12 million connections were distributed in the country till 2014, but in the last 4 years his government has given gas connections to nearly 13 million families.

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Construction of more than 13 million homes in four and a half years

The President said that his government is committed to end the challenge of malnutrition in poor women and children and under Mission Indra Dhanush vaccination drive has been carried out. New medical colleges are being opened and new AIIMS hospitals are being constructed across the country. In order to overcome the shortage of doctors in villages, 31 thousand new seats have been added in medical studies. In order to overcome the problem of homelessness, the government has constructed more than 13 million homes in the last four and a half million years under the PM housing scheme, whereas in the first 5 years, 5 lakh houses were constructed in the first five years.

Ayushman Yojna: More than 10 lakh poor people were given treatment in 4 months

The President said that the treatment cost makes poor, poorer. Understanding this suffering, my government started the Ayushman scheme last year, under which 50 million poor will be given treatment in case of serious illness and every year 5 lakh rupees will be spend on single family. In more than four months, more than 10 lakh poor patients have undergone treatment under this scheme. In addition, more than 4 thousand public dispensing centers have also been opened.

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