Who%20gets%20health%20ministry%20in%20PM%20Modi%20cabinet%3F

A total of 43 ministers took oath in the Darbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday to become a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet. The major cabinet rejig saw 12 ministers including Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar being dropped. Out of the 43 ministers, 33 were new inductees. 

While the likes of the aviation ministry and law ministry were handed to Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia and Kiren Rijiju, it was the junior minister in charge of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Chemicals & Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya, who was made the country’s new health minister. 

After this expansion, the first reshuffle of the government elected in 2019, the total strength of PM Modi’s  Council of Ministers stands at 78.

Also Read | PM Modi’s big cabinet reshuffle: The ministers’ mix decoded

Mansukh Mandaviya is a Rajya Sabha lawmaker from Gujarat. He was amongst the seven ministers who were promoted.

Earlier, the ministry was held by Dr Harsh Vardhan, who held the portfolio in Delhi as well as at the Centre with a stellar record till the second surge of Covid hit the country. The government faced flak over the alleged mishandling of the crisis. The opposition, however, said the former health minister was made a %u201Cscapegoat for monumental failures at the highest level.%u201D

The change of guard in the health ministry came at a time when the Modi government was facing massive criticism from all sides over the alleged mishandling of the COVID crisis during the deadly second surge of the pandemic.

Also Read: Why PM Modi%u2019s top 4 remain untouched in big cabinet rejig

Mansukh Mandaviya was inducted into the Union council of ministers as a Minister of State in 2016. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and re-elected in 2018. He became the Chairman of Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation in 2011 when PM Modi was the Chief Minister.

Also Read: In mega cabinet reshuffle, Modi government includes 7 women in council

Mandaviya is known for his padyatras that he undertook to connect with the people of his constituency and for spreading awareness. He organized his first yatra as a legislator in 2005 when he walked 123 km through 45 educationally backward villages in Palitana to advocate girls%u2019 education. Next, he walked on foot covering 127 km crossing 52 villages in 2007 advocating girls%u2019 education.

Mansukh Mandaviya, who has worked on several projects for the welfare of women, was honoured by Unicef for his contribution to women%u2019s menstrual hygiene.

#MansukhMandaviya #CabinetReshuffle #CabinetExpansion #HealthMinistry