Will Maya have her way? Rajya Sabha to vote on promotion quota bill today

 News
Dec 162012
 

Rajya Sabha, on Monday, will vote on the controversial Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill 2012 that seeks to provide reservation in government jobs for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

While the Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) has been pressing the government to pass the bill, the Samajwadi Party(SP) has issued veiled threats saying it could reconsider its outside support to the ruling United Progressive Alliance(UPA) if the bill is passed.

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had said in Lucknow on Saturday, “If voting is done on the bill in the house, I will reconsider my party’s support to the government.”

BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters, “The SP and BSP are hand-in-glove with the Congress. On several occasions, the two have jumped in to save the UPA government. The threat by Mulayam Singh Yadav is mere political posturing.”

Parliament has been disrupted frequestly over the issue since the winter session started on Nov 22.

Rs 600 per month enough to support a family of five, says Sheila Dikshit

 News
Dec 162012
 

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has argued that Rs 600 – the cash subsidy- was adequate for buying the monthly “dal, roti and chawal” for a poor family of around five.

Launching the UPA’s new food security scheme Dilli Annashree Yojna on Saturday, Dikshit said, “In Rs 600, he would get dal, rice and wheat. A family of five can easily complete their needs.”

Sheila Dikshit and Nandan Nilekani

Sheila Dikshit with Nandan Nilekani during the launch of the service

Under the scheme, Rs 600 per month would be transferred directly to the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of the senior-most women member of poor families.

The beneficiaries of the scheme need not be below poverty line(BPL) or Antodaya Anna Yojana(AAY) card holders. However, they must hold an Aadhaar Unique Identification(UID) card, the official added.

A total of Rs 4,800 will be deposited per account, as the scheme, which was announced in city’s budget 2012-13, will be effective from April 1, 2012.

The Delhi government has tied up with the six major banks to implement the scheme.

Sheila Dikshit, Sonia Gandhi and Nandan Nilekani

Sonia Gandhi, Sheila Dikshit and Nandan Nilekani giving away an Aadhar-enabled card in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, Dikshit’s statement has left the Opposition aghast.

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “Hundred years back, people may be able to meet their needs in 600. But, in the present age when you don’t even get a single meal in Rs 600, the Congress is insulting the poor by launching such schemes.”

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev also criticised the statement saying, “I would want to say that Rahul Gandhi’s single meal’s worth would be more than 600.”

Sheila Dikshit, Sonia Gandhi and Nandan Nilekani

Sonia Gandhi, Sheila Dikshit and Nandan Nilekani during the launch of ‘Dilli Annashree Yojana’.

Earlier on Saturday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi launched the Delhi government’s food security programme for two lakh poor families that are not getting benefits under other welfare schemes.

“The Delhi government’s move is an important step in the direction of becoming a hunger-free state,” Gandhi said.

-With Agency inputs