Mayawati doles out Rs 4,000 cr projects on 55th birthday

Lucknow, Jan 15 (PTI) Apparently with an eye on nextyear''s Assembly elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief MinisterMayawati unveiled over 600 projects worth Rs 4,000 crore onthe occasion of her 55th birthday today.

She also announced the implementation of Janhit GuaranteeAct, aimed at making government officials accountable topublic and ensuring timely delivery of services, especiallythose related to dalits, poor and down trodden.

Describing the Act as "historic", she told a functionhere that the idea is to fix accountability on officers whowould be penalised in case of laxity.

"Every year my birthday is celebrated as ''Jan KalyankariDiwas'' on which my government takes decisions in the interestof the people and gift them developmental schemes," she said.

She took the opportunity to hit out at the opposition anda section of the media, saying they indulge in "baseless talkswhich shows their casteist attitude towards dalits".

Instead of highlighting the public welfare measures takenby her government, a section of the media and the oppositiontalk about her "dress and jewellery", she said.

"As part of my birthday celebrations, which is dedicatedtowards public welfare and uplift of poor, especially dalits,camps on various schemes for the benefit of downtrodden arebeing organised in all the 72 districts," she said.

Mayawati also announced increase of financial aid under''Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Gareeb Arthik Madad Yojna'' to Rs 400per month from Rs 300 now, benefiting 31 lakh families.

She announced increase in dearness allowance for stategovernment employees and pension by 10 per cent withretrospective effect from July 1, 2010.

To provide medical and health facilities in remote areas,''Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Mobile Hospital scheme'' was launched tobenefit people in 133 blocks across 15 districts.

The chief minister also directed release of poor, old andsick prisoners lodged in various jails across the state.

The government will set up information centres invillages with over 5,000 population next year. "Officials willbe available at these centres to provide services andinformation on various scheme," she said.

Mayawati said to ensure better infrastructure facilitiesin ancient and historical cities, the government has alreadylaunched 355 projects worth Rs 15,000 crore.

"For Lucknow 53 projects worth Rs 3,984 crore have beensanctioned as the number of tourist increased after importantplaces, museums and parks were named after icons belonging toSC/ST and OBC communities," she said.

Among other schemes, the government has set up a sewagetreatment plant and taken up beautification work of Hazratganjand Lalbagh markets in the state capital.

The chief minister also released the sixth volume of herbook ''Mera Jeevan Sangharsh aur BSP Movement ka Safarnama (Mystruggle and travelogue of BSP)''.