UP govt scraps one more scheme

“It is true that budget has been curtailed for the scheme and it has been deferred. The reason may be that there are several similar schemes being implemented by the state government which are covering a larger section of society,” said Ambika Choudhary, Minister for Backward Class Welfare.

He claimed that a large number of people are being covered under Samajwadi Pension Scheme.
Choudhary had, however, no answer for the state government not allotting funds to the scheme, which led to its closure. “Now it is the reality,” he said. The move to scrap the scheme assumes significance as the beneficiaries were poor people from Backward classes who are considered traditional voters of the SP.

Choudhary defended the move. “The amount (Rs 5,000) given for illness is of no consequence when we are providing free treatment for serious ailments. For the marriages, an amount of Rs 10,000 was fixed but we could not reach out to a larger section of the people,” he claimed.