Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Thursday announced development projects worth more than Rs 3,500 crore on her 53rd birthday in Lucknow.
These include Mahamaya Gareeb Balika Ashirwaad Yojna, the Savitribai Phule Balika Shiksha Madad Yojna, the Sarvjan Hitay Gareeb Awas Yojna and construction of two hostels in Noida and Greater Noida for SC/ST category students. The chief minister also laid the foundation stone of 10 new projects worth Rs 106 crore, besides 26 roads of Rs 459 crore.
Stating that it has been the Bahujan Samaj Party?s tradition to offer ?gifts? to the people of the state on her birthday, Mayawati said like all previous years, her government has decided to launch a host of new schemes this time as well.
Giving details of the projects, the chief minister said that a Mahamaya Gareeb Balika Ashirwaad Yojna was being launched, wherein financial assistance would be provided to poor girls born on or after January 15, 2009, once they attain the age of eighteen.
Under the scheme, the government would open fixed deposit accounts for all such girls.
?Once a girl turns 18, she will get a financial aid of Rs 1 lakh, provided the beneficiary is not married,? she said, adding that the scheme will help the government to improve on the skewed gender ratio in the state.
Another scheme launched for girls was the Savitribai Phule Balika Shiksha Madad Yojna, under which assistance of Rs 25,000 would be extended to girls coming from poor families to pursue secondary education. These two schemes will cost the state exchequer around Rs 2,000 crore, she stated, adding that the state government would run both the schemes from its own financial resources. ?These schemes would be funded by the state and the centre would have nothing to do with them,? she said.
Announcing another populist scheme, the Sarvjan Hitay Gareeb Awas Yojna, the chief minister said that the government has decided to give ownership rights to people living on public land at nominal rates. ?The decision would rid them of extortion by the authorities,? she claimed.
Under the scheme, slumdwellers occupying government land would be provided with the opportunity to own land at a rate ranging between Rs 30 to Rs 10 per square metre.