Unemployment allowance double if Mulayam voted back to power

Babatpur, Varanasi, Nov 16 (UNI) Taking a dig at opposition parties for ''deploring'' the development initiatives of his government, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today reiterated to double monthly unemployment allowance to Rs 1,000, if voted back to power in the 2007 assembly polls.

''Those who have never done anything for youth and women during their regime have no right to belittle my government, which is not splurging, but giving the money to whom it belongs. If voted back to power, we will continue with the Kanya Vidya Dhan Yojna (KVDY) and double the monthly unemployment allowance to Rs 1,000,'' he maintained addressing a public meeting here.

''We have earmarked Rs 500 crore, Rs 600 crore and Rs 100 crore towards unemployment allowance, KVDY and Bhoomi Sena schemes in the present fiscal,'' he informed.

Mr Yadav, taking note of farmer's opposition to proposed hi-tech city in Korauta (Varanasi), clarified such development cannot take place at the cost of agrarian interest.

Taking a dig at opposition for criticising his government's developmental schemes, Mr Yadav said ''in the past when these parties were in power in UP,, especially a party which ruled for decades, the money was not spent in UP, but splurged in Delhi and Mumbai.'' Mr Yadav said six lakh jobless youth had been provided employment during his over three-year chief ministerial tenure and assured more jobs will be created and provided if voted back to power.

On the naxal menace, Mr Yadav claimed he was firm on his stand that naxalism cannot be tackled with bullets. It can only be addressed through development and bringing back the misguided youth into the mainstream, he said.

''I will visit the three-day SP training camp in naxal affected Sonebhadra district starting December 1 and try to bring back the misguided youth into the mainstream,'' the SP supremo underlined.

Earlier, the Chied Minister distributed Rs 31 crore through cheques among 37,000 beneficiaries of KVDY and unemployment allowance schemes hailing from Varanasi and neighbouring Chandauli district.

Mr Yadav also laid the foundation and unveiled over 100 development projects for the two districts.

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