Mah govt for uniform country wide lottery policy

Mumbai, Apr 20 (UNI) Maharashtra Finance Minister Jayant Patil today said there should be a uniform countrywide policy for lottery and the Centre is making efforts for the same.

Replying to a question by Govindrao Adik, Sanjay Dutt (Cong), Mr Patil said the prize money for the draws of lottery of other states at present is 91 per cent while it is 60 per cent in respect of Maharashtra state lottery.

He said Union Home minister Shivraj Patil had organisd a meeting of state finance ministers in New Delhi in which it was stressed that there should be a universal policy for the income from lotteries.

He said in Maharashtra 2200 lotteries are drawn every day out of which 360 are of the state itself.

Deputy chief Minister R R Patil expressed the need for banning two digit lottery and added that Law and Judiciary departments' advice have also been sought for the same. He said this proposal would be tabled before the cabinet.

UNI JM ADG RL HT1855