New schemes for old in Akhilesh govt’s balance sheet

The UP government is set to launch a grand new scheme, Samajwadi Pension Yojana worth Rs 2,424 crore.

At a function held earlier this week to launch new schemes.

The UP government is set to launch a grand new scheme, Samajwadi Pension Yojana worth Rs 2,424 crore, on November 5 with cheques to 10,000 families out of a target of 40 lakh. Such new schemes, however, come at a price.

The SP government has over the past few months stopped or drastically reduced funds for its existing flagship schemes, after having spent over Rs 8,000 crore in its first two years and benefited over 60 lakh families. A government official justified it: “The financial constrains are the same; so, to make way for new schemes, others will have to be either tweaked or funds stopped.”

A checklist of such schemes:

Rani Laxmi Bai Pension Yojana Rs 1,100 crore; Stopped

Announced soon after the Akhilesh Yadav government came to power in May 2012. He scrapped a similar scheme of the Mayawati government, Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Gareeb Arthik Madad Yojana. Sources said that in two years, about 23 lakh out of 25.75 lakh targeted beneficiaries have been covered, with Rs 1,100 crore spent. Funds for the scheme have been stopped because of a new, similar scheme, Samajwadi Pension Yojana, with some changes in selection criteria. All these schemes have been for those among the poor left out of other schemes.

Kanya Vidya Dhan Yojana Rs 1,700 crore; token continuance

The scheme was meant for girls who have passed XII and belong to families with income less than Rs 35,000. Started during Mulayam Singh Yadav’s regime, revived by Akhilesh. In two financial years, Rs 1,700 crore has been spent, benefiting over 7 lakh girls. In 2012-13, 2.95 lakh got Rs 30,000 each; the next year, 4.45 lakh got Rs 20,000; this year, the budget allocation is a token Rs 1 crore.

Laptop distribution Rs 2,858 crore; Token continuance

Benefited 14.65 lakh students who had passed class XII. This year, a token allocation of only Rs 1 crore has been made, and the government has become selective in distributing about 35,000 laptops that are left over. The government has also decided to stop funds for free tablets to students who have passed class X.

Unemployment Allowance Rs 2,000 crore; Stopped

Rs 1,000 per month for the unemployed. The scheme has been started during Mulayam’s regime, and was revived by Akhilesh in 2012. The government has decided to stop allotting funds after having spent about Rs 2,000 crore in two financial years and benefited about 12 lakh unemployed youth.

‘Shadi-Bimari’ Yojana Rs 420 crore; Token continuance

The name is a popular one given to the scheme, which entails assistance to poor girls for marriage and illness. It is meant for girls of SC/ST communities and other backward classes. Launched in 2007-2008, it saw changes in 2012. In two years, the government spent Rs 220 crore on 2 lakh SC/ST girls and Rs 200 crore on 2.2 lakh OBC girls. This year, a token Rs 1 crore allocation has been made. Sources said Rs 150 crore was allocated in 2013-14 but Rs 37 crore could not be distributed.

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Humari Beti Uska Kal Scheme Rs 350 cr last year; token now

Initially meant for “poor Muslim girls” but following opposition, widened to include other minority communities. The government has reduced the fund allocation to a token amount this year. In 2013-14, about 1.58 lakh beneficiaries had benefited with Rs 350 crore spent. The government initially gave Rs 30,000 to girls for higher studies but, in 2013-14, reduced the dole to Rs 20,000.