Old schemes got new name in NDA regime, Rahul ‘shows’ Amethi

THE CHARGE At meeting to review development schemes, Cong vice president asks officer to read old names of schemes

The charge that the NDA government has changed the names of several central schemes was raised before Congress vice president and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi at district level vigilance and monitoring committee meeting in Amethi on Friday.

The meeting, called to review the implementation of various development schemes in Amethi, saw district officers reading out about central schemes, most of which, as per Congressmen, were introduced by the UPA but given new name in the present regime.

These included Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (JNNURM), Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana (Indira Awas Yojana), Deen Dayal Upadhyay Antyodaya Yojana (National Urban Livelihood Mission) and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojana (National Skill Development scheme) etc.

Congress’ Amita Singh requested the officers to read out old names as most of the public representatives were not aware of the new names of the scheme.

“They have changed the names of old schemes,” pointed out Rahul as officers took note of his demand and read out the old names while referring to the implementation of the new schemes. Some other Congress members also expressed their concern about the change of names of the government schemes and suggested that a censure motion be introduced.

While Rahul ignored the demand, he appeared concerned about the delay in inquiry into the irregularities in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) in his constituency.

When the district officers informed that the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) was conducting an inquiry into the issue, Rahul asked them to write to the EOW to ensure that the inquiry was completed expeditiously. Rahul also asked the district officers to ensure early completion of six roads that had remained incomplete for long.

Rahul also asked the district officers to ensure that bank accounts of new village pradhans are opened at the earliest. It had been pointed out to Rahul that the development work had come to a halt in the constituency as no funds can be transferred to ‘pradhans’ in the absence of their bank accounts. A decision to speak to nodal officer for the banks to expedite the issue was taken. When some representatives raised the issue of quality of roads being constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), district magistrate Chandrakant Pandey agreed to constitute a committee to inquire into the issue. Congress MLC Deepak Singh reminded about the construction of a 200 bed hospital that had been sanctioned during the UPA regime. It was felt the issue of construction of central school in Amethi should also be expedited. Some public representatives also pointed out how the people were being misled about the implementation of Pradhanmantri Ujjawala Yojana (for LPG) and the e-rickshaws distribution schemes etc. ANGANWADI WORKERS MEET RAHUL

A group of Anganwadi workers on Friday stopped Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi convoy in Gauriganj and handed him over a memorandum listing their demands. Rahul was leaving Amethi and was on way to Lucknow when some Anganwadi workers requested him to listen to their demands. Rahul came out of his vehicle and heard them. Besides demanding a hike in salary, the Anganwadi workers demanded that they be treated as government employees.