SHAHDOL: While maintaining that the cause of battling the dangerous genetic disease (mostly common among tribals) was close to his heart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched on Saturday, the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Eradication Mission from tribal dominated Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh – targeting to eradicate the genetic disorder by 2047.
On the day, when the opposition Congress released posters bearing its five assembly poll guarantees in Bhopal and the Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced AAP’s freebies in Gwalior city of poll-bound MP, the PM asked people, particularly tribals to be alert about the “false guarantees” by political parties.
While taking a dig at the opposition parties’ attempts to unite against BJP, the PM, while accusing them of speaking against the nation, added that they can’t guarantee a terrorism free India.
While accusing the Congress and other opposition parties of being “anti-tribal,” the PM listed out the initiatives taken by his government for welfare of tribal population, including implementing the PESA Act, starting education facilities in 4000-plus Eklvaya schools.
At a function held at Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh, the prime minister took a swipe at the opposition and asked people to beware of "fake guarantees" being given by "family-centric" political parties including Congress.
"Beware of those (parties) who are giving fake guarantees. Such people have brought schemes of guarantees despite they don't have their own (political) guarantee," Modi said.
He said, "Family-centric parties including Congress are hobnobbing together".
On the occasion, Modi started the distribution of more than 3 crore digital Ayushman cards in the country and one crore PVC Ayushman Bharat cards in MP. He announced that Rani Durgavati's 500th birth anniversary will be celebrated across India and stamps will be released.
The prime minister distributed Sickle Cell colour-coded counselling cards to a few beneficiaries. He also handed over Ayushman cards and PVC Ayushman Bharat cards physically to some beneficiaries.
The National Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission (NSCAEM), which aims to address the pressing health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among the tribal population, was announced in the Union Budget 2023.
Modi said that Ayushman Card is a guarantee of Rs 5 lakh treatment in hospitals.
"It is the guarantee of Modi," he added.
"The government aims to eradicate sickle cell anemia from India in a mission mode by 2047," Modi said, adding that half of the total number of persons affected by this disease in the world are in India.
(With inputs from PTI)