Nobody knows repackaging better than BJP govt: Azad

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday accused the Bjpled government of repackaging schemes started by the UPA government and passing them off as its own. Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Azad named several schemes, including the government’s flagship “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” initiative which, he said were instances of repackaging.

“In politics, there is a need for at least some honesty... Nobody knows repackaging better than the BJP government,” Azad said.

The Congress has repeatedly claimed that the Bjp-led government has been on a repackaging binge. Last year, its senior leader Shashi Tharoor had claimed that the government has renamed 19 of the 23 schemes launched by the Congress government. Presenting a list, Tharoor had tweeted: “Why we in @ Incindia insist this is a namechanging government, not a game-changing one!”

On Monday, Azad cited some of the better-known examples, saying the National Child Programme, started by the UPA government in 2008, had been relaunched as the Beti Bachaao programme.

Moreover, Azad said, the scheme for the girl child has not been given the financial support it needs.

From 161 districts of the country, the scheme is now operating across 600 districts. But the corresponding budget allocation has not kept pace. From the earlier Rs. 200 crore, it should have gone up to Rs. 800 crore to meet the present commitments. Instead, only Rs. 80 crore has been allocated to the scheme in the budget, said Azad.