New Delhi: Bracing up for the extended COVID-19 lockdown impact on Indian society, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that his government would  come up with 1000 new maternity hospitals across the country over the next six months.

Addressing the weekly Mann ki Baat radio programme, Modi said the lockdown would be a time for ‘mann ki baat’ in many families in the country, so he knows ‘what it would translate into’.

“Priye janno, Modi ne mann ki baat ka mouqa diya to mann ki baat karo, baaki tayyari Modi karega, (Dear people, Modi is giving you the opportunity for doing what your heart wishes, so take it, Modi will do the rest of preparations),” he said.

A Health ministry spokesman later added that it was ready to tackle after-effects of COVID-19 lockdown and working on the blueprint for setting up 1000 maternity hospitals across the country.

“Our government is fully aware of the results of keeping people, especially couples locked inside their homes,” said Varsh Bardhan, a spokesman of Health Minister. “To cater to their needs and handle pregnancies and childbirths, we will be constructing 1000 maternity hospitals under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).”

Bardhan said the lockdown may also help India to surpass the population of China much before 2027.

“If on one hand, COVID-19 will cause some deaths but on the other hand we will be invincible,” he said. “We will definitely defeat COVID-19 and after nine months a new generation will be ready to face a new world.”