BJP gets into election gear, offers sops to woo public

Jaipur, Aug 14 (UNI) The ruling BJP in Rajasthan is already in pre-election mode, with rapid announcements of many sops and welfare schemes to woo the public.

In a Cabinet meeting held at Jodhpur yesterday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, several decisions were taken to win the electorate.

In a move to attract women voters, it has been decided to provide five per cent reservation for widows from among the present provision of 30 per cent in government services.

In a clear move to garner youth support, 'Akshat Yojana 2007' scheme has been announced, which will provide unemployment allowance to the youth till they obtain employment, applicable from July 1,2007. Those youths have been included under the scheme whose parent's annual income is not more than Rs one lakh. Male applicants will get Rs 400, female Rs 500 and handicapped Rs 600 per month as unemployment allowance.

The state government has also announced a unique pension scheme and is the leading state in the country to implement it. Rajasthan Vishwakarma non-organised worker pension scheme 2007 entails providing pension to people under non-organised sector.

Under the scheme, the state government would make equal contribution as made by the worker upto the limit of Rs 1000 per year.

In another scheme, all girl students in rural areas taking admission in class Xth in the academic session 2007-08 would be provided a new cycle on payment of Rs 300 on the condition of non-availability of goverment higher secondary school within a distance of 2km from her residence.

The Transport Voucher Yojana will provide girl students from class XI to class XII standard the facility for going to school at a distance more than 5 km in rural areas or to provide the facility of group private transport.

Under the Palanhar scheme for widows, the state government has included women eligible for destitute pension. One son of such women would be provided a subsidy of Rs 500 per month upto five years of age and Rs 675 per month upto the age of six to 15 years.

UNI