3. In our country , cooking gas cylinders were considered an upper
middle class luxury. Gradually it spread to the middle class. But
the poor do not have access to cooking gas . According to experts
having an open fire in the kitchen is like burning 400 cigarettes an
hour . The
Time has come to remedy this situation.
4. The government has decided to embark upon on
a massive mission to provide LPG connection in
the name of women members of poor
households . A sum of Rs.2000 crore in the
budget have set aside to meet the initial cost of
these LPG connections.
5. This will benefit about ONE crore FIFTY lakh
households below the poverty line. The scheme will be
continued for at least two or more to cover a total of 5
crore BPL households.
6. HEALTH PROTECTION SCHEME
Serious illness of family members cause severe stress on
the financial circumstances of poor and economically
weak families, shaking the foundation of their economic
security.
7. In order to help such families , the Government
will launch a new health protection scheme which
will provide health cover up to Rs. 1 lakh per
family. For senior citizens of age 60 years and
above belonging to this category additional top-
up package upto Rs. 30,000 will be provided.
8. About 2.2 lakhs new patients of End Stage Renal Disease get
added in India every year resulting in additional demand for
3.4 crore dialysis sessions. Every dialysis session costs about
Rs. 2000 –an annual expenditure of more than Rs. 3 lakh.
9.
10. To address this situation, I propose to start a ‘National
Dialysis Services Programme ’. Funds will be made
available through PPP mode under the National Health
Mission, to provide dialysis services in all district
hospitals. To reduce the cost, I propose to exempt
certain parts of dialysis equipment from basic customs
duty , excise/CVD and SAD.
11.
12. Union Cabinet has approved the ‘ STAND
UP INDIA SCHEME’ to promote
entrepreneurship among SC/ST and
women. Rs. 500 crore has been provided
for this purpose. The schemes for welfare
and skill development for minorities such
as Multi-Sectoral Development
programme and USTAAD shall be
implemented effectively.