RANCHI: Qasim Ansari of Nayasarai village on the outskirts of Ranchi received a two-page letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. In his letter, the PM outlined the Union government's new Ayushman Bharat health scheme."You can avail the scheme in hospitals in your area and select health facilities across the country. I hope you will receive complete treatment without the need to worry about the expense and without hassles. I pray to God for your family's well being and prosperity," the PM signed off.Ansari is not alone to have received such a letter. Theresa Kacchap, a resident of Balalong village in Nagri block and Syeda Khatoon, another resident of Nayasarai, also received the letter undersigned by Modi. Ansari, Kacchap and Khatoon were among the 17,600 people across Ranchi district who are to get such customised letters from the Prime Ministers.As the Union health and family welfare ministry's ambitious Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) - also called Ayushman Bharat - nears its grand launch from Ranchi on September 23, the Modi government has kicked off a unique initiative to send customized letters to 10.74 crore families across the country who will be brought under the scheme. In the build up to the launch, roughly two lakh such letters will be distributed in Ranchi, Hazaribag and Deoghar districts of Jharkhand."This is a proud moment for Jharkhand as the scheme is being launched from Ranchi. Those who are getting the letters are becoming a part of history," health minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi said to the Sahiyas, who are tasked with the distribution of the letters among the beneficiaries, at the community health centre in Ratu outside of Ranchi. Chandravanshi urged the district health officers to complete distribution of the letters before the PM's scheduled arrival on Sunday.Principal health secretary Nidhi Khare said, "Jharkhand is the first state where letters are being distributed. Its objective is to create a buzz among the people about the health program. All families, eligible for the scheme, will also get golden cards which will help them in empanelled hospitals."As per estimates, about 57 lakh families in Jharkhand will be covered under the scheme which promises Rs 5 lakh annual cover. Chandravanshi said 204 government health facilities and 556 private hospitals and nursing homes will be empanelled for the scheme where people will get cashless treatment.Modi's letter also serves a veiled political purpose with Parliamentary elections less than a year away. In the letter, the PM has went on to inform people about several people centric schemes such as Saubhagya Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, PM Awaas Yojana his government rolled out since 2014. "All these schemes are strengthening the lives and income of the people. But all these schemes do not hold significance if a poor family falls ill," Modi said in the letter.

Stay updated with all the Latest Ranchi headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.