Free education, healthcare are not freebies, says Kejriwal
NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asserted that free education and healthcare are not freebies and access to these can eliminate the country’s poverty in one generation. During the Independence Day event at Chhatrasal Stadium, Kejriwal also emphasised that education and healthcare in the country can be revamped in five years, as this has happened in the national capital.
“Education is not a freebie; parents sacrifice all they have for their child’s education. If there’s any dearth of funds, all of us can sacrifice one meal a day but we shouldn’t stop the goal of education for all at any cost,” said Kejriwal.
In terms of health, Kejriwal said, “We spend Rs 2,000 per capita each year in Delhi in providing free healthcare. If we set out to offer free healthcare to all, then we’ll incur a cost of barely 2.5 lakh crores.”
There has been political acrimony over the issue of freebies, with the BJP accusing Kejriwal of using it as a “bait” to trap people for power after the Prime Minister last month cautioned people against what he called the “revdi culture” of offering freebies for votes.
At the event where thousands of children were invited, he said the people need to come together and resolve to make India the number one country in the world. Lamenting that many nations that got independence after India, Kejriwal said, “How did countries like the US, Canada, Germany, and Denmark become rich? They focused on providing proper education and healthcare,” he said.
While congratulating all on the occasion he said, “There is great joy and enthusiasm in the country. The air is filled with patriotism and ‘junoon’.” Talking about the AAP’s achievements in Delhi, he said, “The government schools were in shambles earlier, with children sitting on carpets and getting no education. But now, the schools are reformed with the new structure,” he said. He concluded the speech by expressing his hope for the people and sang the song, ‘Hum Honge Kamyab Ek Din’.