BJP politician 'nominates' Modi for Nobel Peace Prize

Tamilisai Soundararjan and her husband Professor Dr P Soundarajan nominated Modi.

(Web Desk) – A couple has nominated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Nobel Peace Prize for launching the “world’s largest” health care scheme, NDTV reported.

BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit President Tamilisai Soundararjan and her husband Professor Dr P Soundarajan said they had nominated Modi for launching the “path breaking initiative”.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been nominated for Nobel Peace Prize 2019 for launching the world’s largest health care scheme Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana- Ayushman Bharat by Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan...” a statement from the state BJP chief’s office said.

"The last date for Nomination for Nobel Peace Prize 2019 is January 31, 2019. The nomination processes start in September each year. University Professors and Members of Parliament among others can also nominate our Prime Minister," it added.

The scheme, which the government dubs “Modicare”, will provide 100 million families, or about 500 million poor people, with health cover of 500,000 rupees per year for free treatment of serious ailments, Modi said on Sunday.

Critics say the scheme has been launched in a hurry for political gain and lacks adequate funds to support it. India faces a shortage of hospitals and doctors.

The government has also in recent years capped prices of critical drugs and medical devices and increased health funding.

India spends only about one per cent of its GDP on public health, among the world’s lowest, and the health ministry estimates such funding leads to “catastrophic” expenses that push seven per cent of the population into poverty each year.

With inputs from Reuters