On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned about the rising obesity rates in India, mentioning a report that says nearly 440 million people could be obese by 2050. He called this number “huge and scary” and stressed the need for action to address this health crisis.
During his two-day visit to Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, PM Modi inaugurated projects worth ₹2,587 crore. He also launched a new food security campaign in Surat to help people access better nutrition.
Speaking at rallies in Silvassa and Surat, Modi pointed out that obesity can lead to many health problems. He encouraged everyone to exercise regularly and cut down on edible oil by 10%. “Lifestyle-related diseases are a big risk today, and obesity is the main cause of many of these problems,” Modi said. He warned that if things don’t change, one in three people could be obese by 2050, which poses a serious threat to public health.
The Prime Minister urged everyone to buy 10% less oil and engage in physical activities like cycling to help reduce obesity. He also announced plans to open 25,000 new Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country, where affordable medicines will be available. He mentioned that middle-class and low-income families have saved around ₹30,000 crore by buying medicines from these government centers.
Modi encouraged residents to work together to develop the Union Territory, comparing it to the transformation of Singapore from a fishing village to a modern city. He believes that if the people are committed, great changes can happen.
During this visit, he inaugurated several important projects, including a 450-bed hospital in Silvassa and new facilities in Diu and Daman. After his work in Silvassa, he went to Surat to talk about the new food security campaign and to address the people there.
Modi also took a jab at the Congress party, saying that those with no power might have problems understanding the ₹32 lakh crore in loans given out under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, which aims to help small businesses.
