By IANS,
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Wednesday accused the central government of blocking development schemes for the state.
“The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is creating obstructions in the development of the state by not releasing the Rs.80,000 crore (Rs.800 billion) financial package we sought,” Mayawati said at a function here after inaugurating welfare schemes for girls.
Be it the one for reviving closed industrial units or a relief package meant for drought-hit areas, the central government is just not serious about the progress of the state, alleged Mayawati.
“I want to make it clear that despite non-cooperation from the Congress government, we will continue to launch welfare schemes for the masses from the limited financial resources we have,” said the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief.
The chief minister inaugurated two schemes – Mahamaya Gareeb Balika Aashirwad Yojna and Savitri Bai Phule Balika Shiksha Madad Yojna – at her official residence 5 Kalidas Marg.
The Savitri Bai Phule Balika Shiksha Madad Yojana offers Rs.25,000 and a bicycle to girls who pass Class 10 and enrol for Class 11, officials said.
During the function, Mayawati also handed over cheques to some girls.
The Mahamaya Gareeb Balika Aashirwad Yojana is patterned on the “Ladli Lakshmi Yojana” of the Madhya Pradesh government. Under this scheme, every girl child belonging to economically weaker sections and born on or after Jan 15, 2009, will be entitled to Rs.100,000 when she attains the age of 18. However, the money will be given to her only if she is not already married by this age, they added.
The chief minister said such schemes would help fight social evils like child marriage and female foeticide.