Shri Amit Shah launched ‘Ayushman CAPF’ scheme for personnel and dependents of Central Armed Police Forces

The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah today launched the ‘Ayushman CAPF’ scheme for personnel and dependents of the Central Armed Police Forces during a function in Guwahati, Assam. On this occasion, Shri Amit Shah presented Ayushman CAPF beneficiary e-health cards to some officers and personnel of the CAPFs.

In his address on this occasion, Shri Amit Shah said the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is committed to serve and take care of those serving the country and making our soldiers Ayushman is the priority of the Modi Government. Today we are also celebrating Parakram Diwas to mark 125^th birthday of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has decided that from now on, the country will celebrate January 23 as Parakram Diwas. He said today the Ayushman CAPF scheme is being started for the healthcare of the brave jawans of the CAPFs and their families. There cannot be a better day to start this scheme than today.

The Union Home Minister said whether it is internal security or border security, our Jawans stand guard with valour and dedication. I believe that soldiers who are serving our motherland should not be worried about their families. It is our responsibility to take care of their families. We have taken many steps to ease their problems and make their lives easier. PM Modi’s Ayushman Bharat is one such scheme that is being extended to all CAPF personnel and their families today.

Shri Amit Shah said the Modi Government has solved a problem of the CAPF personnel and that is related to the healthcare of their families. We always want to serve those who serve the country. Now all CAPF personnel and their families will receive free treatment with a simple card swipe in 24,000 hospitals. Shri Shah said the scheme will be fully implemented by 1^st May and an effort will be made that the Ayushman shield becomes available to all, through the efforts of the Prime Minister by 1^st May. The Union Home Minister said a health card will also be given to all CAPF personnel and their families and all CAPF personnel can receive a medical checkup once every year and their families once in three years. This is a wonderful gift from Prime Minister Modi to our CAPF personnel. The Prime Minister Ayushman scheme has already served around two crore people, and provides free treatment upto Rs. five lakh to the poor and the needy. Shri Shah said that patients are also given Rs. 250 to commute back to their homes after treatment. The lives of India’s 60 crore poor have been transformed by this cashless system.

Shri Shah said when he took charge of the the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, there were three major problems faced by security forces, which included lack of a comprehensive plan for healthcare, very low housing satisfaction ratio and extra duty hours due to delay in new recruitments. Shri Shah said the Modi Government has resolved the problem of healthcare today, which is a major beginning. The Union Home Minister said we are also trying to ensure that every Jawan gets to spend at least 100 days every year with his family. Just a few days ago recruitment results have been declared and 50,000 Jawans will join the CAPFs soon, besides another 50,000 Jawans will also be recruited in the near future. The recruitment process will be combined with the cycle of retirements in such a way that a new Jawan is recruited on the day of the other’s retirement. This will enable Jawans to sincerely do their duty. Shri Amit Shah said work will be done to increase the housing satisfaction ratio to 55 percent, which is targeted to be gradually increased to above 65 percent by 2024.

The Union Home Minister said the year 2020 was extremely challenging for the entire human race. Along with the whole world, India has also faced this crisis. In the early days a lot of questions were raised, but by taking the initial steps under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, the entire country was ready to unite and fight against the Corona virus and today the virus related figures of India are very good compared to developed countries.

Shri Amit Shah said before the Corona virus struck, we could not make masks, PPE kits, ventilators, but today India has the capability to export these to the world. The main reason for this is that State Governments and 130 crore people standing together with the Prime Minister fought against the Corona virus in India. Shri Amit Shah said CAPF personnel and policemen stood in the front row in this fight. Many soldiers were also infected but there was no laxity in their vigour and passion.

The Union Home Minister said our scientists have made two vaccines that are considered to be the most reliable in the world. Today, the world’s largest vaccination programme is being run under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Shri Amit Shah said I want to tell the people who are indulging in politics over the Corona vaccine, that there are many other forums for infulging in politics. Why are you indulging in politics on issues concerning the people’s health and the vaccine that our scientists have worked hard to make? By indulging in such acts, you are casting aspersions on the ability of our scientists. I request all Jawans, – State Police Forces, CAPFs and others, to wait for their turn and take the vaccine without any hesitation.

Shri Amit Shah said the Modi Government has initiated several reforms, which include the establishment of the National Defence University and National Forensic Science University. This will help students involved in the field of security to make a career. Shri Shah also asked the Chief Minister of Assam and the state’s Finance Minister to open colleges affiliated to these two universities.

The programme was attended by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai, the Assam Chief Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam’s Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Home Secretary Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Director General of the CRPF, Shri A.P. Maheshwari, National Health Authority CEO Dr. Indu Bhushan and senior officers of the CAPFs and the Union Government. (With inputs from PIB)