#IndependenceDay: Modi promises Indian will go to space by 2022
Giving his fifth Independence Day speech from Red Fort, before India goes to elections next year, PM Narendra Modi said we will send an Indian to space by 2022. "We have decided that by 2022 when India completes 75 years of Independence, or before that, a son or daughter of India will go to space with a tricolor in their hands," he promised. Here's more on what he said.
It's difficult but we'll do it: ISRO after PM's announcement
Modi's announcement about the space mission sent wave of excitement through the country and ISRO. Dr K Sivan, chairman of ISRO, said 2022 was a tight deadline but they will get it done. "Vyom will be a national effort, not just an ISRO project. It will boost national pride," Dr Sivan said. This project would be the most challenging one taken up by ISRO.
The budget of this ambitious project is Rs. 9,000 crore
Within 40 months, ISRO plans to launch its first mission. This project will cost Rs. 9,000 crore. As a part of the 'demonstration phase', two unmanned flights and one human flight will catapult a three member crew into low earth orbit for 5-7 days.
You can watch the speech here
PM Modi makes announcement aimed at providing healthcare to poor
PM Modi also announced 'Ayushman Bharat' programme in his address to the nation. The programme will be rolled out on September 25, and he said it will be the world's largest government funded healthcare programme. It aims to benefit 10 crore deprived families by giving them coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family. This scheme is popularly called as Modicare.
Ironically, even BJP ruled states haven't signed up for 'Modicare'
The Centre had alloted Rs, 10,000 crore for this project but the fund release is yet to be done. Notably, ten states including Odisha, Punjab, Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Goa, haven't signed for the project yet.
PM talks about rape, one of topics suggested by people
The PM also spoke about rapes and said stern action was taken against rapists. Notably, rape was one of the topics common people suggested to PM for his speech. "Rapes are being tackled sternly. It should be widely reported how rapists are being sent to the gallows for their crimes," he said. He added law of the land was supreme.
Dig on Congress and 'Kashmiriyat' find mention in PM's speech
In what can be seen as a dig on Congress, PM Modi said if one kept 2013 as the base year, they would know how much the country has developed since. On the Kashmir issue, he evoked 'Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat, Kashmiriyat', used by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "Not bullets and abuse, we want to embrace the patriotic people of Kashmir," he said.
