Govt took care of economy, turned tragedy into opportunity: Nadda

India t only took bold and timely step of imposing a lockdown to save lives of 1.3 billion people from COVID-19 but also took care of ecomy to turn trdy into an opportunity, BJP president JP Nda said on Saturday.

dressing a meeting of party's Odisha executive committee, Nda said that while powerful nations were helpless in combating pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was clear in his mind as he took decisive action of imposing lockdown in order to save lives of people.

"PM Modi me it clear that lives of 1.3 billion people must be saved. He said 'Jaan hai to Jahan Hai' as public health was at top of his mind," BJP chief said.

lockdown was imposed well in time and also implemented effectively across country as a weapon against pandemic, he said.

Besides taking care of health-related matters, Modi government also dressed ecomic issues through several programmes such as 'Garib Kalyan Yojana' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', ded Nda. 

Even UN secretary-general ackwledged India's steps in this regard and so has director-general of World Health Organisation, he ded. trdy and challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic were effectively turned into an opportunity by BJP-led government at Centre, which anunced a Rs 20 lakh crore pack to revive ecomic activities amid crisis, he said.

Nda's comments came amid criticism of government by opposition over sharp decline in GDP. country's ecomy suffered its worst slump on record in April-June, with gross domestic product (GDP) contracting by 23.9 per cent as coronavirus-related lockdowns weighed on alrey-declining consumer demand and investment.

ting that all political parties except BJP became "inactive" after lockdown was imposed, Nda said his party took to virtual mode and continued to serve people.

Asserting that healthcare infrastructure of country was given a major boost by government, he said that when lockdown was imposed India did t have a single COVID hospital, and over 1,500 such facilities with 2.5 lakh beds have been set up in last few months.

Similarly, daily COVID-19 testing has also increased to over 10.10 lakh, ded Nda. 

Besides, country w manufactures over 4.5 lakh PPEs every day as prime minister encourd Indian entrepreneurs, Nda said.

This apart, country also has over 3 lakh ventilators, he said. BJP chief said that due to concrete steps taken by government COVID-19 recovery rate in India has gone up to 74.30 per cent.

All se show that India has fought pandemic from front under leership of Modi and has achieved success in battle, he said.

Nda said that 80 crore poor people have benefited from 'Garib Kalyan Yojana', under which rice, wheat, dal and or commodities are being provided. programme was launched as PM Modi was worried about poor. He wanted to ensure that body remains hungry due to crisis triggered by pandemic, he said.

Moreover, eight crore people were provided LPG cylinders free of cost for three months in order to mitigate ir hardship, Nda said, ding that financial assistance of Rs 500 per month was extended to 20 crore poor women, while differently-abled persons and destitute are getting Rs 1,000. Of Rs 3 lakh crore earmarked for revival of MSME sector by providing easy loans, alrey Rs 1.10 lakh crore have been sanctioned and disbursed, he said.

BJP leer said that Rs 1 lakh crore is being spent on agriculture. Nda said National Education Policy is set to change face of country, and BJP workers should make people aware of se initiatives, he said.

NEP will enable students to study in different regional langus and ensure equal opportunity and provide flexibility in education, he said.

prime minister has also decided to reach optical fibre connectivity to 6 lakh vills in country within 1,000 days, Nda ded. 

(Im Credits:PTI)