Gandhinagar, 20 May 2012
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today addressed NRI Gujaratis in 12 cities of America and Canada live through video conferencing. Presented above is the video of Shri Narendra Modi’s speech.

Ahmedabad, 17 May 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 100-bed modern BAPS Yogiji Maharaj Hospital at Shahibaug here this evening.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Modi remembered the contribution of seers and saints of India for their selfless services to the society. He remembered the role of Pramukhswami Maharaj Yogiji in de-addiction of 40-lakh people. He wished the Hospital would work for the society with the same spirit.

The Chief Minister said that the Swamiji has imbibed the essence of Ayurveda and passed on the knowledge to his disciples. If such service institutions join government efforts the state could do wonders, he said.

He said that it was because of the advancement in medical science that the average life expectancy of mankind has increased. He desired to spread the area of influence of the medical science. He said that nursing and medical colleges have been set up in every district.

Dr. V. P. Patel said the hospital was built with the inspiration of Pramukhswami Maharaj of the Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS). It has 100 doctors(15 in-house and 85 visiting doctors) and 250 para-medical staff. 1,25,000 sq ft complex also offers panchakarma and ayurved treatment services.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included Health Minister Jay Narayan Vyas, Purushottam D. Patel, Phoolchand and donors, MLA Bharat Barot.

Video of Narendra Modi’s speech

Valsad, 17 May 2012

Really touching words in following lines that are taken from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s today’s speech in Valsad district on the occasion of Gujarat government’s annual pre-monsoon Krushi Mahotsav:

“We organize Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit for two days, once in two years, but because in such summit, the big people, industrialists, rich persons come, their photos are published in newspapers, and media discusses that Ratan Tata came, Mukesh Ambani came etc. If we set up one factory, we would attract admiration from all corners.”

“But every year under scorching sun when entire government goes to villages for one-month period, it is nowhere in focus(in media).”

“If one farmer has made an amazing achievement in the field of agriculture, and he is honored, nobody spare time to discuss it, nobody(in media) mentions it. This is because, our nation has developed a mentality, that for the sake of just saying it, we say that our country is led by its agriculture, and that our country is a country of villages.”

“But when any farmer achieves something, it is not mentioned, his achievement is not recognized, discussed enough.”

“Through Krushi mahotsavs, we want to make a point that the real strength of this country lies in its farmers, in its agriculture.”

Ahmedabad, 14 May 2012

Taking the salute of a passing out parade of 387 newly-trained police personnel and officers of Gujarat Police Academy (GPA), Karai, today the Chief Minister Narendra Modi called upon these personnel to devote their lives for safeguarding of the nation and its people. “The very assurance that criminals will get punishment creates an atmosphere of safety coupled with trust and increased respect among the people for the police”, he said.

The passing out parade of a trainee batch was organized today at GPA, Karai. The trainees, inducted through direct recruitment, comprise 61 deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) including 20 women, 177 police sub-inspectors, 116 women Lok Rakshak and 33 intelligence officers. In a short span, nearly 26,000 recruitments have been made in Gujarat police force on various cadres in transparent way. Highly qualified candidates such as doctors, engineers, post graduates and even the girls have also chosen the police force as their career.

The Chief Minister appreciated that youths with technical knowledge and computer skills have joined the police force. “Gujarat police force is the youngest in India”, he said.

Lauding the services of police force Mr.Modi said the credit for the atmosphere of peace and law and order during last decade goes to the State police. “The crime rate in the State is the lowest in the country. Gujarat has not seen the instances of curfew during last decade. Gujarat police is better than the police of any other State”, he said. Mr. Modi suggested putting success stories of every police stations of the State on the State police’s website.

Mr. Modi said that intelligence services have a crucial role in entire security scenario, but unfortunately it has been treated with indifference in the country. Gujarat has initiated in this direction and linked it up with the courses of Rakshashakti University, Forensic Science University and Gujarat Law University with a view to modernize the services of police force, he said.

Chief Minister praised the ‘100 man hour training module’ which has been prepared by around 660 police inspectors for giving training and sharing their experience to the constables under them. This module has benefited around 22,000 police jawans. “State government has planned to expand the scope of such 100-hour training to all the cadres of police force including the officer-level. It is only Gujarat in entire country which has chalked out such a well-though-out structure for police training”, he said.

On the occasion, Chief Minister presented medals to the police officials who performed best during the training.

Joint Director of the academy Atul Karwal administered the oath to the officials who completed the training.

Minister of State for Home Praful Patel, Minister of State for Road and Building Jaydrathsinh Parmar, Additional Chief Secretary to Home Dr. Varesh Sinha, DGP Chitranjan Singh, senior police officials and the families of the passing out personnel were present on the occasion.

Ahmedabad, 13 May 2012

Bhikhudan Gadhvi is a man devoted to folk literature of Gujarat. He can speak on folk literature for hours, and perhaps for days.

In concluding literary session of Amdavad book fair, Shri Bhikhudanbhai spoke on ‘folk literature and me’.

Those, not familiar with the dialect of rural Saurashtra will have to listen to this speech carefully.

In his address Bhikhudanbhai said the folk literature is literature that has come from the people. “Meghanibhai used to say that folk literature is a literature that comes from the people, it is like I collect Rs 10,000 from you, and then donate the sum to you only.”

It was heartening to see that all seats were occupied and many people were on their foot in the tent-hall of Amdavad book fair to listen to this senior folklore artist.

His entire address (36 minutes) is presented above.

Ahmedabad, 12 May 2012

The first edition of Amdavad national book fair was not limited to just book sale.

Like Jaipur literary festival, here was a parallel session running on literary activities, and talks by authors. The fair was organized for the first time this year, and therefore the literary sessions were limited to the authors from various parts of Gujarat, but hopefully in next few years, the literary section of the book fair will expand further.

Concluding function of the book fair witnessed a talk delivered by popular author Gunvant Shah(Vadodara) among others. Response to this session was so well, that there was not a single seat left vacant, and people were standing in crowds to listen to the authors. The floor was tightly full of people.

In his speech ‘hu ane chintan’ Shri Gunvant Shah started his talk by expressing worries over speedily vanishing ‘palaathi’ (a cross leg sitting style) among mothers. He later talked on multiple subjects including ‘tension’.

Shri Shah thanked the Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad and said the book fair is ‘sanskar yagna’. He said Ahmedabad is the second Municipal Corporation that organizes a book fair. Surat Municipal Corporation organizes similar book fair annually. “But Vadodara – though it is known as Sanskar nagari – does not host such book fair, but soon Gujarat will be infected by Ahmedabad(in this subject).”

Botad, 4 May 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was in poll mood today while addressing rural Bhavnagar people in Botad. Modi attacked central government in his fiery speech. Modi said Gujarat will never bend before Congress ruled centre. He said Gujarat never did bend before Nehru or Indira, what is Sonia’s class then? Modi attacked centre over issues like cotton, gas grid, approval to medical colleges, power and more. Modi said that PM residence uses generator due to power shortage in Delhi, while Gujarat farmers get round the clock power. Modi said Delhi wanted power from Gujarat, and we were ready, but look at their irony, there found that there was no infrastructure in place to get power from Gujarat. Modi said, ‘they changed how many leaders in last ten years in an attempt to give me a fight, but none could stand against us.’

Modi said the Congress bashes him through newspapers, paying for each word, and added, “it’s fine so far I am targeted, but attack on people of Gujarat would not be allowed”. The people of Gujarat will never accept those lying and obstructing development.

Ahmedabad, 3 May 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated Narayana Hrudayalaya’s Ahmedabad facility in presence of Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CMD, Biocon and Director, Narayana Hrudayalaya hospitals, Ahmedabad Mayor Shri Asit Vora, and Narayana Hrudayalaya founder Dr. Devi Shetty at Ex.Monogram mill compound near Rakhial cross roads.

Narayana Hrudayalaya is in the process of setting up a 5000-bed health city with a medical college and nursing and paramedical educational institution in the 37 acre campus situated at Rakhial, Ahmedabad. the upcoming establishment will create a large possibility of providing direct and indirect employment from time to time and also add value in the development of the entire neighborhood.

Under the phase 1 of the Health city project, a 300-bed healthcare facility has been set up, which has all facilities such as advanced cardiology unit, cardiac surgical unit for adults and children along with Orthopedic, Neuro- Sciences, Urology, Nephrology, Critical care and medicine, Pediatrics, Gynecology, Gastro Sciences, Advance diagnostics like 1.5 Tesla MRI and 64 Slice CT scan, Mammography and so on.

In last few years while the western part of Ahmedabad city witnessed opening of around half a dozen new super specialty private hospitals, this is for the first time that a hospital of national repute is opening in east Ahmedabad.

Narayana Hrudayalaya’s founder Dr Devi Prasad Shetty was conferred with Padma Bhushan for Medicine in 2012. He won the 2011 The Economist Innovation Awards for the Business process field. Dr Devi Shetty is a medico philanthropist and a cardiac surgeon who has performed over 15,000 heart operations. He was a part of the seven-member panel of Board of Governors which replaced the Medical Council of India (MCI) and served for a period of one year before it was further reconstituted. His brainchild ‘Yeshasvini’-the world’s cheapest comprehensive health insurance scheme, at Rs.5 per month, designed by Dr Shetty and Government of Karnataka for the poor farmers of the state, is a very well-utilized scheme in Karnataka with 25 lakhs people covered.

The Narayana Hrudayalaya group now has 14 hospitals having collective capacity of 6000 beds in 11 locations covering 7 states. the NH group is in the process of expanding its services to five more cities within the next six months. The cost of healthcare, especially tertiary healthcare is becoming unaffordable to the common man in India. The NH group’s desire is to reduce the cost of tertiary healthcare by building large scale health cities with 2000-5000 beds, sharing the infrastructure and expertise and thereby, through the economy of the scale, reduce the input costs. In the process, the group also delivers better outcomes because of great technical skills developed over a period of time. The NH group performs largest number of heart and other super-specialty surgeries in India attracting patients from 76 countries.

The NH group conceptualized the idea of micro health insurance called Yeshasvini, which was launched by the Karnataka State Cooperative Society eight year ago. The Yeshasvini proved to the world that with Rs. 5 per month premium, a viable health insurance programme can be scaled up to cover the tertiary healthcare coast of millions of people. The group has the desire to roll out similar schemes with the help from various state governments across the country. India needs 2.5 million heart surgeries a year. Unfortunately, all the heart hospitals in the country put together perform less than 1,00,000 heart operations a year. The NH group is in the process of building low cost heart hospitals across the country using prefabricated construction materials. The first such hospital is being built by L&T, India’s largest construction company in Mysore. This has proved that a 300-bed low cost heart hospital can be built in six months with an investment of about 6-7 million dollar all inclusive. NH believes that the entire delivery concept of healthcare wil undergo a dramatic change and India will become the first country in the world to dissociate healthcare from affluence.Ten years from now, India will still have large number of people living in the slums which lack basic amenities. However, when they are unwell, they wll have access to high-tech healthcare with dignity.

Inaugural function

Inaugurating the facility Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that Gujarat Government has allotted Rs.200-crore in the budget for the timely treatment of serious diseases of poor patients Below Poverty Line (BPL) for assistance of Rs.2-lakh under the Chief Minister’s Amritam Yojna. He said that Gujarat is also ahead in preventive medicine.

Modi said the government has allotted 37 acres land for the hospital just one-and-half months back and the 300-bed hospital began functioning from today taking a fee of Rs.10 from the poor patients.

Expressing satisfaction at the modern facility for the poor, he said that the state government has taken many schemes for the well-being of children and expecting mothers. Delivery at institutional maternity has reached 97 per cent as 108 Emergency Service has reached far and wide.

Shri Modi wished the hospital expands to 5,000-bed capacity fast, start a medical college. The government has also started Chiranjeev Healthcare, CNG Transport for pollution free atmosphere, providing drinking water from the Narmada to the Sabarmati and nutritious food the needy to improve basic physical infrastructure.

Narayana Rudralaya Hospital Chairman Shri Devi Shetty welcomed the Gujarat Government’s policy of Public-Private Partnership providing healthcare at affordable cost. The hospital will start a medical school for poor children in two years.

Those present on the occasion included Ahmedabad Mayor Asit Vora, Principal Health Secretary Rajesh Kishore, Vice-Chairman Ashutosh Raghuvanshi and Smt Kiran Shetty.

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw speaking at inaugural function of Ahmedabad facility of Narayan Hrudayalaya

Dr. Devi Shetty’s speech at inaugural function of Narayana Hrudayalaya Ahmedabad Health City

Insightful and interesting interaction with Dr. Devi Shetty of Narayana Hrudayalaya(Video)

Dahod, 1 May, 2012

Speaking in Dahod on Tuesday evening, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said that Congress has lied in its latest TV advertisement.

Modi in his speech said:I was watching their new ad on TV today which is clearly a lie. They (in their TV advertisement) say that (when they were in power) they brought industries to undeveloped areas of Gujarat. The fact is that, Gujarat’s golden land is between Ankleshwar and Vapi. The belt between Tapi and Vapi is entirely a prosperous area. This is the land where the best amount of rain, highest quantity of water and most fertile pieces of land are available. Before 20-30-40 years, they(the Congress regimes) established industries in that area and converted a precious land into factories of chemicals. It is our government that shifted the industries to Halol, Kutch, Banaskantha, and coastal areas where nothing could grow. They are lying on the issue of Gauchar land. In last one decade, milk production has increased at the rate of 66%. If there was no fodder, no land how this growth could be achieved? An official document of Delhi government says that they want to start pink revolution which means export of mutton.

Ahmedabad, 1 May, 2012

Narendra Modi is always at his best when there’s a book launch function. Here is his speech on the occasion of book fair launching, and Modi is at his ‘more than best’. Enjoy the speech.

Ahmedabad, 23 April 2012

Doordarsha kendra, Ahmedabad on the occassion of its silver jubilee year honored 10 achievers from different fields of Gujarat with Girnar Shiromani Award 2012. An award function was organized on 19th of April in Ahmedabad’s Tagore hall. While the life time achievement award was presented to veteran Gujarati film and stage actor Upendra Trivedi, famous music composer/singer duo Shyamal Saumil were honored for their contribution to Gujarati music. Poet Shri Vinod Joshi, sportsperson Shri Geet Sethi were among other honored in this function. The entire function will be telecast live on Doordarshan Girnar channel on 1st of May, Gujarat day. Presented above are glimpses of the award function containing the moments when award was presented to Shri Upendra Trivedi, Vinod Joshi and Shyamal Saumil Munshi.