Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asserted that education and healthcare are significant for India’s growth and are not ‘free revdis’.
At the Delhi government’s Independence Day event at Chhatrasal Stadium here, he also emphasised that school education and healthcare in the whole country can be revamped in five years, as this has happened in the national capital.
Modi had used ‘revdi’ as a metaphor for freebies being promised by some parties to woo voters and said the people, especially the youth, should guard against it.
At the event at the Chhatrasal Stadium on Monday, where thousands of children were invited, Kejriwal said the country’s 130 crore people need to come together and resolve to make India the number one country in the world.
We came together and chased the Britishers out. Today, if we come together, we can make India the top country in the world,” he said.
Lamenting that many nations that got independence after India has surpassed it, the Delhi chief minister reiterated that education and healthcare are key to becoming a rich country.
“How did countries like the US, Canada, Germany, and Denmark become rich? They arranged for good education and healthcare facilities for their citizens. We will also make India the number one country in the world,” he said.
“The tricolour will fly high only when every Indian has access to good healthcare and education,” Kejriwal said.
Congratulations to all on 75 years of Independence, he said, “There is great joy and enthusiasm in the country. The air is filled with patriotism and ‘junoon’.” Talking about the Aam Aadmi Party dispensation’s achievements in Delhi, he said that the education system and health facilities in the city have been reformed by his government.
“The government schools were in shambles earlier, with children sitting on carpets and getting no education. But we reformed the government schools and today, a poor child studying in a state-run school can also dream of becoming a lawyer or engineer,” the Delhi chief minister said.
The chief minister also said the government has ramped up healthcare infrastructure and, irrespective of their financial status, people have access to free hospital care in Delhi.
“On average, we are spending Rs 2,000 on the healthcare of every Delhiite. We can arrange for good healthcare facilities for Rs 2.5 lakh crore for 130 crore Indians. We can open world-class mohalla clinics and hospitals in five years,” he added.
Paying homage to all freedom fighters and those who struggled for the growth and progress of the country, he noted it is time to celebrate progress in various fields.
“But we need to think over the challenges and our future course. Many are asking why many countries have gone past (us) in 75 years.
“Singapore got independence 15 years after India and Japan that was destroyed in the Second World War, got ahead of us. We are no less than others. Indians are the most intelligent, hardworking people in the world but we still have lagged,” he added.ADVERTISEMENT
He concluded his address by singing ‘Hum Honge Kamyaab’ (We shall overcome).
