Welfare achievements get high marks in UPA

NEW DELHI: Weighed down by an economic slowdown and numerous corruption scandals, Congress-led UPA government is banking on social sector reforms and welfare measures to add some sheen to its 9th anniversary report card.

The report card, which will be unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his 7 Race Course Road residence at a grand ceremony later on Wednesday evening, showcases the introduction of National Food Security Bill, decline in violence in areas affected by Left Wing extremism, increase in life expectancy, enhanced minimum support prices for farm products and an increase in number of central universities as its key achievements. All these provide a clear indication of what the Congress campaign could hold in the next elections. With the economic report card containing quite a few red marks, the party is hoping to bank on welfare measures to woo the electorate.

ET got a sneak peek into the report card before its unveiling. Herewith are some key points:

*Internal security

Situation in J&K has improved under UPA

Militancy related incidents have witnessed a 10-fold decrease

In the last four years, lives lost in LWE-related incidents reduced by more than half

* NREGA

Every fifth rural household in India benefits from the scheme

Wages under NREGA have almost doubled

In 2012-13 the scheme provided employment to 4.8 crore households

* Food security

Three fold increase in food subsidy during UPA tenure

Record production of foodgrains

Agriculture credit has increased five folds

Stocks were at record levels during the year

* Health care

Absence of new endemic polio cases for last two years

Indians are living longer as life expectancy has increased more than five years

* Social security for special sections

Minorities are benefitting under PM’s 15-point pprogramme

Growth rate of North eastern region is higher than national average

* Education

Central universities increased from 17 to 44 between 2004 and 2013

9 IITs added

10 crore school students receive mid-day meals

* Farmer welfare

UPA has been steadily increasing MSP

* IT and telecom

Telephone density in rural areas has increased 25 ties during UPA regime

* City welfare and infrastructure

There has been a ten-fold increase in investment in road construction under UPA