Diabetes in India claims more lives than HIV every year. On World Diabetes Day on November 14, the Government plans to launch a new initiative whereby free diabetes check up will be offered for people living in urban slums and rural districts.

The plan is India's biggest ever battle against diabetes that has plagued 50 million people and kills about 4 million people every year.

The government plans to inject Rs 500 crore into its new policy after studies revealed diabetes afflicts not just the urban rich, but also the rural poor.

"Figures show that diabetes is not an ailment of the urban rich as was believed earlier. Studies have shown that it's a disease that plaguing the rural population as well," says Health Secretary Sujatha Rao.

The money will fund free diabetes check ups that use strip gluco-meters and BP tests, starting with a 100 districts in 20 states.

A total of 33 cities with populations not exceeding 10 lakh and which are not close to state capitals have been chosen. The target is to test 7 crore adults aged 30 and above.

It is not just a lavish lifestyle but endless hours at the workplace and stress can also lead to diabetes. These findings reveal that it is not an ailment that inflicts the rich but also the working class and poor.

With this new initiative the Government plans to collect data and statistics to study the growth pattern of the disease.