Dubai: India is all set to launch the world’s largest health care scheme ‘Ayushman Bharat’ covering 100 million underprivileged families.

The scheme to be launched on India’s 72nd Independence Day on Wednesday, provides Rs5 million insurance coverage for each family by the Government of India in its pursuit of providing best health care to the poor. Up to five members of a family can avail this opportunity.

Speaking about this unique scheme at the Indian Consulate in Dubai on Monday, General Dr Vijay Kumar Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, greeted the Indian diaspora ahead on the country’s Independence Day.

Dr Singh said: “We look at the Indian expatriates as an asset who serves the interests of the country. We look towards cooperation from you. This government is working on policies to raise the standards of the poor, neglected and underprivileged and is devising a major programme and policy to ensure a society not bound by caste, creed or religion.

Dr Singh is particularly known for his role in bringing back stranded Indians from Yemen and the mortal remains of Indians murdered in Iraq.

Dr Singh commended the efforts of the Indian authorities in securing the release of Gajanand Sharma, an Indian national released after 36 years of captivity in a Pakistani prison. The government of Pakistan released him as a good will gesture on the eve of the Pakistan Independence Day.

Dr Singh said: “It is indeed a very important day for the Sharma family and I spoke to his wife today. We made considerable efforts to trace Mr Sharma whose whereabouts were not known for over three decades. Sharma has been reunited with his family.”

Navdeep Singh Suri, the Indian ambassador to the UAE, welcomed the minister and talked about the strategic partnership of India and UAE in several business and infrastructural projects.

“There are 3.5 million Indians living in the UAE and they represent 33 per cent of UAE’s population. This strong diaspora sends $15 billion (Dh55 billion) in remittances annually.”

Suri talked about numerous strategic bilateral trade agreements and investments that the two countries are involved in particularly by UAE companies such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, DP World and Emaar.

Dr BR Shetty chairman of the NMC group talked about various health care investments made by his group in India