NEWSALERT-MODI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Thursday said the Constitutional amendment to provide 10 per

cent reservation to economically poor in the general category

was achieved due to the political will of his government and

would be implemented from this academic year.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 1500

bed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Medical Science and

Research, Modi said the economic reservation has been given

without impacting the existing social reservations.

"The new reservation will be implemented in 40,000

colleges across 900 universities in the country from this

academic year. The number of seats will be increased by 10

per cent," he said.

Modi said his government was committed to provide

equal opportunities to all sections of the society.

The Institute will be linked to the Ayushman Bharat

scheme so that poor people can avail medical facilities free

of cost, he said.

In 100 days, seven lakh poor people have received

treatment under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushmaan Bharat scheme, he

said.

This will be the first government hospital to have a

helipad, he said, adding the new medical facility will help

boost health sector in the state.

"Cleanliness and health-care has always been the prime

agenda of Ahmedabad municipal corporation since the time

Sardar Patel was the mayor. The hospital project started in

2012 and I am mesmerised by the way it has turned out to be,"

he said.