Mulayam announces sops for rural power consumers, teachers

Lucknow, Aug 24 (UNI) Ahead of the ensuing assembly polls, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today announced waiver of interest on pending electricity bills of rural domestic and tubewell consumers.

After a gap of eight years, the government has decided to provide financial aid to 1,000 secondary schools of the state.

Making announcement during the approval of second supplementary budget for the current financial in the state assembly, Mr Yadav said interest on pending bills of rural domestic and tubewell consumers will be waived, if they are paid in lump sum.

''The interest waiver scheme would start from September 1 and continue till December 31,'' he announced.

In another announcement, the CM said 1,000 recognised, but non-aided secondary schools, would be given financial aid.

''This is for the first time such a large number of schools have been taken for government aid after a long gap,'' he said, adding the proposal would benefit at least 11,000 teachers, employed since 1984.

Both the proposals were approved by the state cabinet here this morning.

The CM assured the house his government was committed to the all round development of the entire state to fulfill the dream of 'Uttam Pradesh'.

Earlier, main opposition BJP staged a noisy walkout of the house and boycotted the budget motion when they were not allowed to make their statements.

BSP members also boycotted the proceedings of the budget as they protested the speaker's decision not to allow their adjournment motion.

Jagdambika Pal of Congress was the only member to place his statement on the budget as he alleged that Basti division had been ignored in the budgetary provision.

The assembly passed the second supplementary budget 2006-07 and its related appropriation bill in the absence of opposition.

The supplementary budget to the tune of Rs 2,882.70 crore was tabled in the house on Tuesday.

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