(PMDY): Pradhan Mantri Dhoomrpan Yojana

Disclaimer: Satire

This is the age of flagship schemes; PMJAY, PMKISAN and many others. But a new scheme has been unofficially in action, mainly for Delhiites and people living around Delhi. The PMDY or the Pradhan Mantri Dhoomrpan Yojana is the flagship scheme of the government to promote lung diseases, health risks and chronic illnesses over a wide range of the population. The aim — to reduce the population in the national capital, by hook or by crook. The interesting thing about this scheme is it works through inaction and policy paralysis — a first of its kind.

The onset of winter in 2024 saw a steep fall in the capital city’s air quality. The rising AQI in the capital raised questions regarding the health risks and illnesses caused due to this phenomenal rise. But what’s not known is that this is the result of another landmark scheme of the government, The Pradhan Mantri Dhoomrpan Yojana, envisioned by both the Union & State Governments to promote such health risks and make a dent in the standard of life in and around the city, lowering the population in this city. This is done by letting the air quality go down to such levels that even breathing in this air is equivalent to smoking 20-30 cigarettes a day. And, it’s commendable to say that this scheme has been phenomenally successful in achieving its aims.

The success this scheme has achieved in its efforts is visible by the AQI level of the region which went up to 1000, equal to 50 cigarettes/day right after Diwali, breaking its metric which lasts only up to 500. The situation was so phenomenal that even masks and air purifiers were rendered non-functional. Cases of respiratory diseases, their early onset and recurve saw a steep rise in the capital, showing the large beneficiary pool and the benefits they have incurred through this scheme.

This scheme’s unsurmountable success in its outreach to people to the last mile couldn’t have been made possible without the combined and coordinated non-efforts by all levels of government. It’s a very rare sight to see different levels of government acting in sync, all in their own state of inaction. From Rohini to Rithala, from Munirka to Maujpur, from Janakpuri to Jahangirpuri, such coordinated and wide-ranging spread of the results are evidence of the sheer commitment shown by all levels of the administration.

The scheme displays a visible resemblance to the efforts of Mao, in his revolution in China, the Great Leap Forward. However, this comes as no surprise, in lieu of Mao, we have our own Mrs. Marlena, having communist inclinations, even her middle name being a portmanteau of Marx and Lenin.

The scheme in its very own formation focuses on the equitable distribution of health problems, i.e. there is no disparity between people based on their income or locality. The whole of the NCR region equally benefits from this scheme. Due to the coordinated and combined non-efforts by both levels of government, there is no considerable difference in the health risks posed to persons belonging to the different social strata of society. Every person, whether poor or rich, faces such health risks. This is a very remarkable achievement of the administration, especially given the neatly stratified structure of our society. Even to the extent that the underprivileged and poor communities receive its benefits in more proportions than the rich, due to their prolonged exposure to outdoor air.

Also, this scheme automatically benefits everyone, regardless of their age group or nationality, making it one of the most democratic and utilitarian schemes of the current times. No child, even a day old is left untouched by this scheme, who enjoys smoking from his first day in this city. The senior citizens also get benefitted, sometimes even more than the youth, showing signs of early mortality and lung diseases.

This scheme aims at curbing the increasing population of the capital, which the government has found an innovative way to prevent. The scheme has resulted in both an increase in mortality rate, with deaths due to this scheme ranging up to 12000/year in the National Capital; and migration out of the region, resulting in a considerable ease on the city’s resources. Even media outlets have contributed to the success of the scheme, by advising people to leave the city.

This scheme is in line with other schemes of the government in the capital like the Pradhan Mantri Yamuna Vinash Yojana (PMYVY) aiming to bring about similar changes but through the promotion of Water-borne diseases, like diarrhoea and jaundice. It will be interesting to see, or not, due to the increasing smog, the result this new scheme will bring about. The PMDY, turning into a one-of-a-kind scheme, is an unsaid strike on the increasing population of Delhi.

Om Gupta is pursuing Law from Jamia Millia Islamia.

Edited By: Mukaram Shakeel

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.