CM directs officials to focus on rural development

Lucknow, Jun 3 (UNI) After learning of irregularities in development works, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today warned officials of stringent action for any laxity in work and directed proper implementation of government schemes.

In a meeting of senior administrative officials at Vidhan Bhavan here, Ms Mayawati said majority of people of the state was concentrated in rural areas, which were lacking behind in all spheres, since long.

The living standard in rural segment had not risen even after 55 years of independence. Thus, with the intention to uplift the rural population, the state government had directed the officials to assure implementation of schemes and drives, including inducting workers for cleaning in every village, construction of toilets, roads, power supply, land allotment and others, in the rural areas.

She said the development of rural segment would take place in phases after demarking the priorities.

Expressing concern over the dropping water level, she said the cleaning of ponds and wells should be initiated at the earliest under NREGA, besides creating small water bodies whereever required.

Coming down heavily upon the officials for not filling the backlog of SC/ST in government departments, she said the vacant posts should be filled at the earliest and also ordered alloting Gram Sabha agricultural land to the unemployed youths of ''sarva samaj'' for job purposes, however, allotment should be done by giving priority to SC/ST class.

Making a scathing attack on the UPA government at the Centre, the Ms Mayawati said wrong policies of the Central government are solely responsible for price rise of essential commodities and said prices would be revised every month so that general public are not exploited at the hands of market players.

She said the government had withdrawn 3/7 Essential Commodity Act to avoid traders exploitation, but steps would be taken to ensure that no trader quotes unneccessary prices of commodities to the general public.

While concluding the meeting, she said, ''Our government is heading forward with its slogan and aim ''sarvajan sukhaya sarvajan hitaya'', however, the dream could only be fulfilled with honest and candid administrative efforts.

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