Launching NDA Government's three social security schemes in Kerala here, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today said these programmes were aimed at eliminating poverty and empower the poor.
The nation-wide unveiling of the schemes -- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) -- was done in Kolkata by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kochi was among 115 places chosen for simultaneous launch.
Noting that western countries provide full social security cover to their citizens, Javadekar said these programmes including "the pensioning of the unpensioned" should have been started much earlier "but better late than never".
"This is an occasion for empowering poor. Its about eliminating poverty. Today's inauguration of three insurance schemes is a very new effort to provide social security. This has to reach the poor... Last man in the queue," he said at the function also attended by Kerala Fisheries Minister K Babu and Hybi Eden, MLA.
He appealed to the rich in the state to help the poor in getting enrolled in the scheme.
"It can be domestic help, farm labour, rickshaw puller, it can be any worker, rural artisan ...All these people will get pension," he said.
