UPA govt obstructs devp in Rajasthan: Raje

Jaipur, Nov 21: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has charged the UPA government at the Centre with misuse of its machinery for obstructing development in the state.

However, despite the Centre's 'bias', her Government during five-year regime in the state had performed well to ensure better living to poor and weaker sections, speed up process of development, improve power supply, strengthen road network and eradicate unemployment, Ms Raje claimed.

Ms Raje told the sources that the Congress led government at the Centre had obstructed the implementation of Rs 850 crore Bhamashah Women Empowerment Scheme, stopped funds for disbursement to workers working on the NREGS works and engineered delay in the supply of turbines and other machinery for power plants in the the state.

The Bhamashah Scheme under which financial inclusion of 50 lakh women of SCs, STs, marginal farmer families and other weaker sections by opening their saving bank account with the state government's initial contribution of Rs 1,500.

The implementation of the scheme was earlier stayed by the Rajasthan High Court and later by the Election Commission.

Ms Raje alleged that the Congress, sacred of her pro-people agenda, had created hurdles in implementation of the scheme.

The delay in supply of the machinery and equipments for power plants from BHEL had led to delay in power generation from half a dozen upcoming units in various power plants.

However, resolute efforts by her government succeeded in achieving unprecedented development and improving the power supply in the state.

"My government has connected 8,270 villages with roads, laid roads in 25902 km stretch and provided employment to 10 unemployed during five year term in the office," the Chief Minister said.

Against this, previous Congress government could connect only 918 villages with roads, lay roads only in 3,936 km stretch, she added.

UNI