At rally to mark second anniversary of government, PM highlights importance of women’s welfare

Marking two years of NDA rule at a well-attended farmers’ rally here on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on women's issues, showcasing the Centre’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme to improve the sex ratio and educate the girl child. “If India’s girl child is not empowered, how can the nation be empowered?” Mr. Modi asked.

He suggested that doctors in the country treat poor women for free on the ninth day of every month.

He also announced that the Union Cabinet would raise the retirement age of doctors working with the State as well as Central governments to 65.

While Mr. Modi steered clear of criticising the Akhilesh Yadav government in the State that goes to polls next year, he said that as a former Chief Minister, he believed in putting money in the hands of States.

Speaking before Mr. Modi, however, Home Minister Rajnath Singh was clear in his appeal, invoking Lord Ram to exhort the people to vote the BJP back to power. “Even Lord Ram's vanvas [banishment] was not more than 14 years. I appeal the people to end our vanvas and vote us back to power in U.P.,” Mr. Singh, a former Chief Minister of U.P., said.

Retirement age of doctors working with the State and Central governments to be raised to 65