Sun Oct 20 13:59:10 UTC 2024: On October 20, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the RJ Sankara Eye Hospital in Varanasi during his first visit since June 2023. He announced projects worth ₹6,700 crore aimed at improving healthcare in eastern Uttar Pradesh, which he described as previously neglected by prior governments. Modi stated that Varanasi will transform into a significant healthcare hub, while emphasizing the government’s efforts over the last decade to lift 25 crore people out of poverty, thereby highlighting the importance of maintaining health.
The RJ Sankara Eye Hospital, the 14th facility run by the Kanchi Math, is expected to serve patients from 20 districts in eastern Uttar Pradesh and neighboring regions including Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Modi met with the Shankaracharya of Kanchi, who praised the NDA government’s focus on both infrastructure development and cultural rejuvenation in various regions, including Kedarnath and Somnath.
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