UP to give special impetus to Ambedkar schemes

LUCKNOW: Dalit icon B R Ambedkar scored over socialist ideologue Ram Manohar Lohia in the Uttar Pradesh budget for 2007-08 presented in the Vidhan Sabha on Friday as Chief Minister Mayawati scrapped several schemes of the previous regime and announced new ones after Ambedkar.

Mayawati announced that a special campaign would be launched to finish the incomplete works under Ambedkar Gram Sabha Vikas Yojna which would include rural electrification, construction of link roads and drains.

An amount of Rs 322 crore had been earmarked in the budget to complete the remaining works at Bheemrao Ambedkar Memorial and Museum. Besides Rs 44 crore had also been provided in the budget for the long term maintenance of Rama Bai Ambedkar Vatika.

A provision of Rs 20 crore has also been made under the Ambedkar Special Employment Scheme to create self- employment opportunities in rural areas.

The government had fixed a target of constructing 14 tube wells in remote areas under the Ambedkar Tubewell Scheme.

Mayawati's mentor and BSP founder Kanshi Ram's name also finds mention in the budget as Kanshi Ram Shahari Vikas Yojna has been started to provide financial assistance to urban bodies for infrastructure development.