Northeastern states are all set for a turnaround: Shah

BJP national president Amit Shah on Monday said that the northeastern region is all set to become biggest contributor of GDP to the country after BJP has assumed power in many of the northeastern States.

Shah said this today while addressing a rally to mark the ‘Bhoomi pujan’ of 19 New Cancer Centres in Assam at Khanapara play ground in Guwahati and said that development in Assam in last two years has already surpassed the works done by the Congress during last 15 years of rule in the state.

“The Bhumi puja (foundation stone laying ceremony) of 19 cancer hospitals is in itself a big stride after Independence. Northeastern States in most of the time were under Congress rule. The region being one of the highest GDP contributors to the country before Independence, suffered development under successive Congress rule. Now that trend has been reserved after BJP came to power at the Centre and majority of states in the region ruled by BJP and NDA,” Shah said.

“In two years of the BJP-led Government and under Modi’s vision, Assam has taken the path of fast pace of development with a slew of connectivity infrastructure projects. In fact the entire Northeast is going through a turnaround in terms of rail, road and IT connectivity. These are the essentials for region’s progress,” he said.

The BJP president also suggested similar cancer care facilities should also be set up in other northeastern states, giving the fact that the region has high incidences of cancer, and over 30,000 people every year from the region had to seek treatment in other States.

It may be mentioned here that the hospitals are being set up under the Assam Cancer Care Foundation, a joint initiative of state government and Tata Trusts. The Tata Trusts have provided Rs 900 Crore, while the State’s Government will pump in Rs 1030 Crore. Centre will provide Rs 180 Crore.

Shah also acknowledged the crucial role played by Tata Trusts with their philanthropic activities in bolstering public health sector in different parts of the country for so many years.

He also referred to schemes of central Government like Ayushman Bharat which covers approximately 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage up-to 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization and Mission Indradhanush which aims to immunise all children under the age of 2 years, as well as all pregnant women, against seven vaccine preventable diseases.