Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri Basavaraj Bommai ji, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai ji, Excellencies present on the dais, ladies and gentlemen!

Namaskar to all the brothers and sisters of Karnataka!

All of you are involved in this great service with many dreams and new resolutions with exceptional zeal and enthusiasm. It is also a good fortune for me to see you. I am very grateful to you. Chikkaballapur is the birthplace of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, one of the architects of modern India. A short while ago, I had the privilege of paying floral tributes at the mausoleum of Sir Visvesvaraya and visiting his museum. I bow down to this holy land. Taking inspiration from this holy land, he made new innovations for the farmers and common people, and created excellent engineering projects.

Friends,

This land has also provided a wonderful model of service to the country in the form of Sathya Sai Gram. The way the mission of human service is progressing here through education and health is really amazing. The medical college that has been inaugurated today will give an impetus to this mission. Every year, Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research will create many new talented doctors in the service of millions of people of the country. I congratulate the institute and all the people of Chikkaballapur here.

Brothers and sisters,

India has resolved to become a developed country in the ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ of Independence. Many times, people ask me how India will become developed in such a short time when it will celebrate 100 years of independence in 2047. ‘There are so many challenges and there is so much to do. How will it be accomplished in such a short time?’ There is only one answer to this question, a strong answer, an answer full of determination, an answer with the power to achieve accomplishments and that answer is ‘Sabka Prayas’ (everyone's effort). This will be possible with the joint efforts of every countryman. Therefore, the BJP government is constantly emphasizing everyone's participation. The role of our social and religious organisations is also paramount in achieving the goal of a developed India. Karnataka has a great tradition of saints, ashrams and mutts. These religious and social institutions have been empowering the poor, Dalits, backwards and tribal communities along with faith and spirituality. The social work being done by your organization also strengthens the spirit of ‘Sabka Prayas’.

Friends,

I noticed that the motto of Sri Sathya Sai University is "Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam". In other words, Yoga is excellence at work. In India too, we have been able to work very sincerely and efficiently in the field of health services in the last nine years. Many reforms related to medical education have been undertaken in the country. As a result, it has become easier for the government as well as other organizations to open hospitals and medical colleges. Be it government, private sector, social sector or cultural organisation, the result of everyone's efforts is visible today. There were less than 380 medical colleges in our country till 2014. Today the number of medical colleges in the country has increased to more than 650. Out of these, 40 medical colleges have been set up in Aspirational Districts, the districts which were lagging behind in every aspect of development.

Friends,

The number of medical seats in the country has almost doubled in the last nine years. The number of doctors in the next 10 years will be equivalent to the strength of doctors in the 75 years of the country’s independence. Karnataka is also reaping the benefit of this effort. Today there are about 70 medical colleges in Karnataka. Of the medical colleges that have been built in the last few years due to the efforts of the double engine government, one of them has been built in Chikkaballapur. We have also announced plans to build 150 nursing institutes in this year's central government budget. As a result, many opportunities will be created for the youth in the field of nursing as well.

Friends,

When I am amongst you, I would also like to talk about a challenge which was being faced by the medical profession of India. It was very difficult for the poor, backward and youths of the villages to become a doctor. Some parties played the game of languages for vote bank for their political interest. But in reality, not much was done to strengthen the language. Kannada is such a rich language which glorifies the country. Earlier governments did not take steps to ensure that medical, engineering and technical education is available in Kannada. These political parties did not want the poor, Dalit and backward sons and daughters of villages to become doctors and engineers. Our government, which works for the interest of the poor, has given the option of medical studies in all Indian languages, including Kannada.

Brothers and sisters,

Such politics has been going on in the country for a long time, where the poor were considered only as vote banks. On the other hand, the BJP government has considered serving the poor as its highest duty. We have given priority to the health of the poor and middle class people. We have opened affordable medicine shops in the form of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country. Today, there are about 10,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country, including more than 1,000 in Karnataka only. The poor people of Karnataka have been saved from spending thousands of crores of rupees on medicines due to these centres.

Friends,

I would also urge you to remember those days when the poor could not dare to go to the hospital for treatment. The BJP government took note of this concern of the poor and resolved it. Today the Ayushman Bharat Yojana has opened the doors of good hospitals for poor families. The BJP government has guaranteed free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh to the poor. Lakhs of people in Karnataka have also benefited from this scheme.

Friends,

Earlier heart surgeries, knee replacements, dialysis, etc. were very expensive. The government of the poor, the BJP government, has also made them affordable. The free dialysis facility has also saved the poor from spending thousands of crores of rupees.

Friends,

We are according top priority to mothers and sisters in our health-related policies. When the health and the nutrition of the mother is better, then the health of the whole generation improves. The health of the sisters and mothers is paramount whether it is a scheme to construct toilets, a scheme to provide free gas connections, a scheme to provide tap water to every household, a scheme to provide free sanitary pads, or to send money directly to the bank accounts of these mothers for nutritious food. The BJP government is especially cautious about breast cancer. Efforts are being made to screen such diseases in the health and wellness centres, which are being opened in the villages. The aim is to identify diseases in the early stages itself. As a result, we are successful in preventing mothers and sisters from a major crisis. I would like to congratulate Bommai ji and his team for opening more than 9,000 health and wellness centres in Karnataka as well. Our government is engaged in providing such a life to the daughters, so that they themselves remain healthy and in future their children also remain healthy.

Brothers and sisters,

Today I will appreciate the Government of Karnataka for another reason also. In the past few years, the BJP government has further empowered the ANM and ASHA sisters. They have been provided with gadgets with modern technology which has made their work easier. Karnataka today has about 50,000 ASHA and ANM workers, about one lakh registered nurses and other health workers. The double engine government is committed to make their life easier by providing all possible facilities.

Friends,

Along with health, the double engine government is paying full attention to the economic empowerment of mothers, sisters and daughters. This land is the land of milk and silk. It is our government which has ensured the Kisan Credit Card facilities for cattle rearers as well. Our government has also launched the biggest free vaccination campaign for the health of animals. About 12,000 crore rupees are being spent on this campaign. It is also the effort of the double engine government to expand the participation of women in dairy co-operatives. Self-help groups of women in the villages are also being empowered.

Friends,

When the country will be healthy, when ‘Sabka Prayas’ will be involved for development, then we will achieve the goal of a developed India faster. Once again, I heartily congratulate all the colleagues associated with Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute for this great human service.

I had a very close relationship with Bhagwan Sai Baba and Shrinivas ji. And this relationship with him is almost 40 years old. Therefore, I am not a guest here, but a son of this soil. Whenever I come amongst you, the relationship gets renewed, old memories get refreshed and I feel like connecting more strongly with you.

Once again, I am very grateful to you for inviting me here. Thank you very much.

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.

***

DS/VJ/VK/AK