PM lauds Kashi woman for promoting generic drugs

Varanasi: After winning praise from PM Narendra Modi for creating volunteers in the name of ‘Jan Aushadhi Mitra’ for promoting low-cost generic medicine through Jan Aushadhi Kendra (JAK), Aparna Kapooria said PM’s pep talk would further boost her campaign.
Aparna got the opportunity to talk to PM Modi on Saturday when he interacted with beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana and JAK store owners of country through video conference in a bid to create awareness about generic medicines on ‘Jan Aushadhi Diwas’.
Aparna, who belongs to Chowk area of PM’s constituency, was asked to share her experience. She said: “Whenever PM Modi speaks or interacts with someone it seems that the person is talking to the head of his or her family. I spoke about my initiatives considering him as a guardian and got praise and encouragement from him.” Aparna, who also runs an NGO, said: “For last 18 months, I have been running eight JAKs in different areas of Varanasi and one at Robertsganj in Sonbhadra district. Mostly women and specially-abled people are engaged at these JAKs.”
“My initiative was praised by the PM probably because it matched with the objective of the scheme which provides a good source of self-employment with sustainable and regular earnings,” she said. “Apart from operating these centres, my focus is on creating groups of volunteers, known as Jan Aushadhi Mitras, for the publicity of PM’s flagship scheme. Volunteers visit villages to encourage women to prepare list of medicines they want and purchase it from JAKs whenever they visit the city,” said Aparna.
“We have succeeded in creating awareness, especially about female hygiene as four lakh sanitary pads are sold from my stores every month,” she said.