In an apparent move to boost the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) political fortunes ahead of the Assembly polls due early next year, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who is in full election mode these days, today announced a series of new social welfare programmes with a special focus on women.
The government women employees will now be entitled for two years leave to look after their kids, Nishank said at function here marking the completion of four years in office of the BJP government. An all women university will also be set up in the state, he said.
He said APL families in the state will now be entitled for 10 kg of rice and wheat at Rs 6 a kg and Rs 4 a kg, respectively. Earlier, Nishank had announced wheat and rice for BPL families at Rs 2 and Rs 3 a kg.
This announcement, he said, was despite the centre’s move to curtail the APL quota of wheat for the hill state by 20,000 metric tons. “We will make sure that our commitment regarding cheap wheat and rice is fulfilled,” he said.
The Chief Minister said all students pursuing MBBS at affordable fees of Rs 15,000 per year will have to complete first 5 year in government jobs after passing the degree. For all those students, who still cannot afford to pay Rs 15,000 fees, will be provided with a special loan facility of Rs 5 lakh with the government providing 50 per cent interest subsidy.
