Mulayam's dole to chowkidars in UP; honorarium doubled

Lucknow, Jan 2 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today announced major sops for chowkidars -- doubling their honorarium, issuance of arms licences on a priority basis, photo identity cards and cycle allowance.

Now the 53,000 strong chowkidars working in rural areas would receive honorarium of Rs 1,000 per month from existing Rs 500, besides they will get Rs 1,500 one-time cycle allowance.

The state government will also issue them photo identity cards and provide arms licence on a priority basis.

Announcing the benefits at a chowkidars' rally here, Mr Yadav said chowkidars played an important role in controlling law and order situation.

Exhorting them to continue their honest working style, the CM suggested police should take the assistance of chowkidars in controlling crime in rural belt.

Admitting that chowkidars are lowly paid, he said his government had always cared for them in the past and would continue to do so in future.

Talking about law and order, the CM claimed it was better than other states.

Commenting on the Kavita Rani case, he observed it was a personal and private issue of relationship and such cases happened in the past also.

Mr Yadav said during the last BJP regime, the crime rate in UP was over 700 cases per day, while in our regime it is only 472.

UNI