India's Modi announces space mission, health scheme as election nears
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets schoolchildren after addressing the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will launch its first manned space mission by 2022 and roll out a health insurance scheme from September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday in his last Independence Day speech ahead of next year's general election.
Modi, a powerful speaker who will seek re-election in the world's biggest democracy early next year, used the speech to broadcast his government's achievements, amid concerns about lack of jobs and rising violence against the Muslim minority.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
Wearing a flowing saffron turban, the Hindu nationalist leader also announced the plan to take the "Indian tricolor to space" in a manned mission that would make India the fourth nation to launch one, after the United States, Russia and China.
"India is proud of our scientists, who are excelling in their research and are at the forefront of innovation," Modi said from the ramparts of the Mughal-era Red Fort in Delhi to a crowd numbering in the tens of thousands.
"In the year 2022 or, if possible, before, India will unfurl the tricolor in space."
School girls hold umbrellas as they perform during India's Independence Day celebrations in Agartala, India. August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Jayanta Dey
Months after Modi's election in 2014, India became the first Asian nation to reach Mars when its first mission to the red planet entered orbit, at a cost of $74 million, or less than the budget of the Hollywood space blockbuster "Gravity".
Modi said his government would launch from Sept. 25 a previously announced medical insurance scheme, dubbed 'Modicare', to give about 500 million poor people annual health cover of 500,000 rupees ($7,200) to treat serious illness.
Critics say that while Modi has adopted several initiatives, his tenure has been marred by violence against Muslim cattle traders and economic jolts through a countrywide ban on high-value notes and the botched launch of a unified taxation system.
Schoolchildren listen as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (not pictured) addresses the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
Businesses have embraced the unified Goods and Services Tax after initial hiccups, Modi said in his speech.
In his 80-minute speech, Modi said the pace of building highways, electrifying villages and building toilets has increased since his landslide 2014 election win that devastated the main opposition Congress party.
Congress, which had ruled India for decades, is now trying to unify the opposition to challenge Modi, whose personal ratings remain high despite recent election setbacks.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
"We want to progress more. There is no question of stopping or getting tired on the way," Modi said.
($1=69.9500 Indian rupees)
Girls hold the Indian national flags as they attend a flag hoisting ceremony during India's Independence Day celebrations in Ahmedabad, India August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave
(Reporting by Krishna N. Das and Promit Mukherjee; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
An Indian army soldier performs a stunt on his motorcycle during India's Independence Day celebrations in Bengaluru, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Abhishek N. ChinnappaIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to inspect the honour guard during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan AbidiIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves as he leaves after addressing the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan AbidiIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets the crowd before addressing the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan AbidiIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi salutes as he prepares to inspect the honour guard during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan AbidiA boy's face is seen through the Indian national flag during Independence day celebrations in Mumbai, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Francis MascarenhasIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects the honour guard during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan AbidiIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves as he leaves after addressing the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan AbidiIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to address the nation during Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, India, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
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