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Tuesday, Dec 25, 2007
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PPP projects to have job quota in Uttar Pradesh

Atiq Khan

Will be similar to the system followed in government service: Mayawati

—Photo: Subir Roy

Chief Minister Mayawati at the press conference announcing the New Economic Policy at her residence in Lucknow on Monday.

LUCKNOW: With the public-private partnership (PPP) model forming the core of the Uttar Pradesh’s new economic policy, 2007, Chief Minister Mayawati announced on Monday that the quota system would be introduced in the areas and projects to be developed on the basis of the PPP model. The reservation would be similar to the system applicable to the beneficiaries in government service.

Rehabilitation policy

Simultaneously, the Chief Minister announced a rehabilitation policy for those whose land will be acquired for developing the 1,000-kilometre-long Ballia-Noida Ganga Expressway.

The package lays stress on compensation for the land and property that are to be acquired, besides certain other benefits.

Fifteen per cent of flats and plots to be developed on the acquired land would be reserved for the oustees. Besides, they would be entitled to a monthly allowance equivalent to minimum farm wages for 25 days.

This arrangement would last one year from the date of acquisition. The policies were approved by the Cabinet.

Unveiling the new economic policy, called the New Middle Path Economic Policy at a press conference here, the Chief Minister said that though the global economic scenario was fast changing, the fruits of economic development had not percolated down to the last man on the socio-economic ladder.

She emphasised that her government had endeavoured to introduce a system of holistic economic development whose benefits would benefit the deprived and downtrodden sections in society.

It was decided on August 10 to introduce the system of voluntary reservation in the sectors where special benefits would be given by the government to the private players.

This arrangement envisaged 10 per cent reservation for the Scheduled Castes, 10 per cent for OBCs and religious minorities and 10 per cent for the economically poor in the upper castes.

The absence of reservation in privatisation initiatives taken by the Central and State governments, besides the shrinking job scenario in government services, had resulted in the decline in the representation of the poor sections in the private sector.

The State’s equity would be a maximum of 49 per cent and a minimum of 11 per cent in the schemes and projects to be developed in the private sector, she said, while allaying the fears of the employees working in the projects to be developed on the basis of PPP model.

Infrastructure development, she said, had been accorded top priority. Development of rural and urban infrastructure, including power, drinking water, roads, transport, health, and industries, had been identified under the new economic policy.

In the Ganga Expressway rehabilitation package, 250 square metres of land in urban areas and 150 square metres of land in rural areas would be allotted free of cost to the families whose houses would be acquired for building the eight- lane highway. The Chief Minister also launched an e-procurement scheme in the State for tenders. It is aimed at finishing mafia raj in contract business.

Gujarat verdict

Earlier, the Chief Minister pointed out that though the Bahujan Samaj Party failed to open its account in the Gujarat Assembly elections, four of its candidates lost only by a margin of 300 to 400 votes.

PTI reports from New Delhi:

In an interview to the Hong Kong-based CFO Asia magazine Ms. Mayawati said she expected to become Prime Minister after the next general elections.

“I expect the Bahujan Samaj Party under my leadership to take charge of governance in India.” “Chances are bright for the BSP to catapult to power under my leadership,” the BSP leader said when asked whether she would play a “central role” in the formation of the next government.

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