Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that the state government will provide free ration to the poor people of drought -hit Bundelkhand region under Right to Food Security Act. He was speaking at the general debate on 2016-17 budget.
Criticizing Opposition parties for politicising the issue of relief in the parched region, Yadav said, “The SP government is sensitive towards the agony of the people reeling under drought. The government is doing whatever was required for the security and welfare of the people. We have decided to provide subsidised wheat flour, edible oil, ghee, potato, salts and other things to ally the sufferings of the poor people.”
The CM promised that the government would press 1,500 water tankers into service to address the shortage of drinking water in Bundelkhand.
Replying to Opposition charges that developmental works have been stalled and the schemes were running only on papers, the CM said that the Agra- lucknow Expressway and the lucknow Metro Raiul are the real examples of the government’s achievement. “Besides, we have a target of providing pension to 55 lakh families under the Samajwadi Pension Yojna and work for the ‘lohia Awas Yojna’ (rural housing scheme) has been stepped up,” he added.
Announcing to develop a Greenfield City and E-Sparsh villages, Yadav said his government was committed to balancing development of rural and urban areas which would enable villages to be developed as smart village and compete with smart cities.
listing his govrnment’s priorities, the CM said that adequate power and good roads were on top of his agenda. “The government is committed to ensuring 16 hrs power supply to rural areas and 22 to 24 hours to urban areas by October next,” he said.
Speaking on the problems of the farmers, Yadav said that sugar mills have been made to pay over Rs 77,000 crores to cane growers in the last four year even as sugar prices in open market have crashed.
In his 90-minute speechm, the CM hit out at the BJP charging it of ditching the people of UP despite the huge faith reposed by voters of the state in the 2014 lok Sabha polls.
“The BJP has given nothing back to this state for which the people will never forgive them. The Centre has reduced the devolution to UP by Rs 8, 000 crores after the adoption of the 14th Finance Commission report,’’said Yadav.
The CM questioned as to why was the Centre not providing for a post-graduate medical institute or the proposed Bullet train to the state. He also questioned why did the BJP not announce anything for the farmers at the recently organised Kisan rally in Bareilly.
“We have asked for an international airport at Jewar (Gautam Buddha Nagar) or at Hirangaon (Ferozabad), but the Centre seemed disinterested,” he stated.
Training guns at the BSP, Yadav said, “The BSP is knowm only for constructing statues and memorials. People have seen their performance and hence will not vote the party to power.’
“The BJP and the BSP are two sides of the same coin. They could again join hands for their vested interest like they did in 2014 lok Sabha polls in Kannauj to defeat SP candidate Dimple Yadav,” charged the chief minister.
Promising to serve the people of the state, the CM also blamed the media for tarnishing the image of the government over the law and order issue. “The UP police did a commendable jon in tracking down missing women recently besides working out other crimes. Yet the media bashing continues,” he alleged.
Earlier, leader of Opposition, Swami Prasad Maurya had said that the situation in Bundelkhand was critical and the farmers and the poor were forced to commit suicide and were starving to death. Maurya said that the Right to Food Security Act was implemented in the state from March 1 last, but the ration cards are yet to be given to the people.
“It is unfortunate that the prices of liquor have been reduced but the budget for education has not been more increased,” said BJP legislature party leader, Suresh Kumar Khanna.