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INDIA-POLITICS-MODI
Modi says ‘sleeping elephant’ India has woken up
NEW DELHI, Aug 15, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
Wednesday hailed India’s growing role in the world economy, calling it a
“sleeping elephant” that has woken up, in a keynote national speech before a
looming election campaign.
The Hindu nationalist leader spoke for more than 80 minutes from the
ramparts of New Delhi’s 17th century Red Fort in the final Independence Day
address of his five year term.
Modi used the spotlight to laud his government’s achievements and announce
that a massive health insurance scheme would be launched in September and
India would send a manned mission into space by 2022.
The prime minister said that India was seen as one of the “fragile” nations
before his nationalist party took power in a landslide in 2014.
“India is now the land of reform, perform and transform. We are poised for
record economic growth,” the prime minister said.
“Today the world says that the sleeping elephant has woken up, is walking
and has joined the race,” Modi added.
India has seen annual economic growth of about 7.0 percent since he took
over — though the rupee is now under attack in the fallout from the Turkey
lira crisis.
Modi, who is expected to call an election for early 2019, announced that an
ambitious health insurance scheme — providing annual cover of about $7,000
for 500 million Indians — will be rolled out on September 25.
The scheme — popularly known as ‘Modicare’ — has been described as the
world’s biggest government health insurance initiative.
“It is high time we ensured that the poor of India get access to good
quality and affordable healthcare,” he said.
“The government health care initiatives will have a positive impact on 500
million Indians,” Modi said, adding that it would cover the equivalent of the
population of the 27 member European Union.
“It is essential to ensure that we free the poor of India from the clutches
of poverty in which they cannot afford health care,” he added.
Adding to the nationalist tone, Modi said India will send a manned mission
into space within four years.
“India will send into space — a man or a woman — by 2022, before that if
possible,” Modi said adding that the chosen astronaut would be “carrying the
national flag.”
Modi also highlighted his clampdown on corruption, bringing electricity to
more Indian villages and his reform in introducing a single national goods
and services sales tax.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1215 hrs