This refers to the editorial, “For A Healthy India” (February 2). The Union Budget 2018-19, mainly focused on the poor, farmer and rural India, is an answer to those who have been accusing the Modi Government of being pro-rich, anti-poor, anti-farmer and ignoring rural India. The Budget was loaded with a number of schemes to help the poor as well as the farmers and has given a boost to the rural economy.
Most importantly, healthcare has become unaffordable for the poor due to shortage and mismanagement of Government hospitals and exorbitant charges levied by private hospitals. The scheme, aimed at providing health insurance to 10 crore poor families, which means 50 crore people taking five people per family as an average, is the world’s largest such scheme. However, merely rolling out schemes is of no use unless they are sincerely implemented at the ground level. It must be ensured that the benefits reach the target population. The Government has to get all States on board for the successful implementation of various schemes announced in the Budget. At the same time, there is no denying to the fact that the Budget has come as a great disappointment for the middle class which has all along been loyal to the BJP. It deserved relief on the income tax front at the very least.