New Delhi: 

The government is aiming at a COVID-19 vaccination record today to mark the 71st birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A 20-day mega event “Seva and Samarpan Abhiyan” – has also been planned by PM Modi’s party, the BJP,  to mark his “20 years in public service”.

“Let’s do #VaccineSeva and give him (PM Modi) birthday gift by getting vaccinated those who have not taken the dose so far,” Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said yesterday, urging people to get the

Leaders of the ruling BJP have been urged to promote the jabs and state officials have been told to double the daily rate. The BJP, which has set a target of 2 crore doses for today, has trained around eight lakh volunteers. 

During the 20-day mega outreach programme that will continue till October 7 – Narendra Modi was sworn in as Gujarat Chief Minister on that day in 2001 – the party will hold massive cleanliness and blood donation campaigns, and send five crore postcards to the Prime Minister to congratulate him for his efforts as “party members commit themselves to public service”.

Hoardings thanking PM Modi “for free food grains and vaccination for the poor” will also be set up as part of the campaign, the BJP said in a statement.

In Uttar Pradesh, where elections are due next year, the party workers will hold a campaign to clean river Ganga at 71 sites.

“Intellectuals and famous personalities will be invited to attend events that focus on PM Modi’s life and his achievements. In various languages, opinions and articles by prominent personalities will be published to ensure the message reaches out to the public,” the party statement said.

Health camps will be held in districts while food will be distributed under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana’, with women leaders playing a key role. “All representatives will go to vaccine centres with an aim to spread awareness and thank the Prime Minister,” the party members have been told.

On Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, a massive cleanliness campaign will be held and a public message will be sent out, encouraging the use of Khadi and local products.

Children who have been orphaned due to Covid will be registered by the BJP workers so that they can get benefits from the PM-CARES fund.

According to the ruling party, all gifts received by the Prime Minister will be auctioned on the government website

The BJP has been celebrating PM Modi’s birthday as “Seva Diwas” (Service Day) since 2014 when he became the Prime Minister. The party organises welfare activities across the country for a week but this time it has extended the celebrations to 20 days as PM Modi is completing his two decades holding public office.