Guj Congress MLAs demand better rate under EGS

Ahmedabad, Feb 12 (UNI) Gujarat Congress MLAs have demanded enhancement of the rate payable under the Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) to Rs 60.

At a meeting of the Congress MLAs, chaired by Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Arjun Modhwadia, a resolution was passed to this effect. The resolution said the State Government should revise the amount immediately. The Centre has provided Rs 91 crore for the scheme whereas the state has spent only Rs 45 crore, the resolution said, while demanding that a separate ''administrative wing'' be established to monitor the implementation of the EGS.

In another resolution, the Congress MLAs lamented the frequent policy changes in education and said this could harm the career of the students.

Besides, the MLAs demanded at least 10 hours of uninterrupted power for farmers, and a fair support price for their produce.

Among their other demands, the MLAs called for abolition of octroi from the seven municipal corporations, enhancement of stipends to SC/ST and economically backward class students in residential schools, implementation of forest rights to benefit the tribals, and reduction in VAT.

UNI