The Uttar Pradesh government will develop the native villages of the 12 CRPF bravehearts martyred in the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 as model villages and provide all basic amenities there.
The government has announced to develop one village in each of the 403 Assembly constituencies of the state as model villages.
An announcement to this effect was made by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath while replying to the debate on the 2019-20 budget in the Assembly on Monday.
After adopting the Finance Bill, 2019, the Assembly was adjourned sine die.
All 403 MLAs decided to donate their one month’s salary for the families of the Pulwama martyrs.
Yogi said that there was no dearth of funds for rural development. In a veiled reference to previous Samajwadi Party regime, the Chief Minister said, “The Pulwama terror attack is an eye opener for elected representatives and all those pursuing politics of appeasement. They will be rejected by the people.”
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Chief Minister also announced sops for grassroots level state para-employees. “Payables to Anganwadi workers, Shiksha Mitras, ASHA Bahus, Pradesh Raksha Dal, village chowkidars and cooks in primary schools preparing mid-day meals have been hiked and will be paid from April 1,” the Chief Minister said.
For state employees, Yogi said the state government had not only decided to open pension accounts of the employees on a war footing but also deposit the state government’s share along with interest in the pension accounts.
The Chief Minister said that the new pension scheme (NPS) was implemented at the Centre during Congress-led United Progressive Alliance regime and Samajwadi Party rule in UP in 2005.
“For the next 10 years, the state was ruled by Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party but they never cared for the employees, their pension accounts were not opened nor was the share of the state government deposited in their accounts,” he said.
The Chief Minister added, “Instead of admitting their lapse, both SP and BSP are accusing the present BJP government of doing injustice with state employees.”
Yogi announced that the state government had increased its share from 10 per cent to 14 per cent for the employees’ pension fund.
Pursuing the agenda of Hindutva, the Chief Minister said, “Only the BJP can ensure respect of faith. We have successfully organised Kumbh Mela and we will take up restoration of places like Ayodhya, Prayagraj and Vindhyachal,” he said.
Yogi said the government was also working on beautification of Sant Ravidas Ashram and Nishadraj Ashram at Shringverpur in Prayagraj.
The Chief Minister said the state government was also working on development and beautification of important pilgrimage centres like Neemsar, Misrikh, Shukratal in Muzaffarnagar and a grand memorial of Maharaja Suheldeo in Shravasti district.
Yogi used the occasion to target his political rivals — - the SP, the BSP and the Congress.
“The BSP will oppose anything and everything which enhances the glory of ancient Indian culture and traditions. Even some accidental Hindus not only wear the sacred thread but also discover their caste and gotra,” he said.
“Had the opposition parties given recognition to the ancient glory of Indian culture, Congress would not have been reduced to 44 seats in Lok Sabha and be on the deathbed in Uttar Pradesh,” Yogi said sarcastically.
In his concluding remarks, the Chief Minister said, “The 15-year-long SP, BSP rules in the state shattered the economy and finances were in a shambles. The sole agenda of both the parties was to loot the exchequer as they knew they would never be voted back to power. My government ended the anarchy and brought financial discipline and enforced financial responsibility and budget management. We also ensured sanction and release of funds as per schedule and ensured that unutilised funds were not transferred to the PLA anymore.”