New Delhi / Shirdi, Ahmednagar, Oct 27 (FN Bureau) Emphasising that real social justice is to get rid of poverty and give the poorest family a chance to move forward, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday that the highest priority of the central government is the welfare of poor.Interacting with farmers and citizens at the Farmers’ Mela held at Kakadi ground near Shirdi Airport on the sidelines of ‘bhoomi pujan’ and dedication of development projects worth more than Rs 14,000 crore in Maharashtra, he touched upon various schemes launched by the central government such as PM Swanidhi Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Vishwakarma Yojana, Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, free ration scheme, free housing scheme.
Speaking further, he said that the central government has spent Rs 70,000 crore on Ayushman Bharat scheme.He further said that 1.10 crore Ayushman Bharat cards will be distributed in Maharashtra and informed that all of them will get free treatment up to Rs five lakh.The Prime Minister also said that beneficiaries in the Pathari business were also getting help of thousands of rupees under the PM Swanidhi Yojana.He also said that the central government has so far distributed Rs 2.60 lakh crore to small farmers under the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Of this amount, Rs 26,000 crore have been directly deposited into bank accounts of small farmers inMaharashtra, he said.Modi said that the government has spent Rs four lakh crore each on the free ration scheme and on free housing scheme for the poor.Under the Vishwakarma Yojana, artisans like carpenters, goldsmiths, potters, sculptors will get help from the government for the first time, he said and informed that Rs 13,000 crore will be spent on this scheme too.