Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, on Saturday claimed that there was no anti-incumbency against the Congress government as most of the budgeted and flagship schemes, including the Chiranjivi Health, RGHS benefit to all employees and pensioners, and revival of Old Pension Scheme (OPS) have established miles stones in the state.
In his address after opening an exhibition on the government’s achievements and flagship programmes at Jawahar Kala Kendra celebrating his 4th year in power, Gehlot said, “this is the first time, when there is no atmosphere against the government. What will be the achievement of a bigger government than this? Still the people of the opposition party, BJP, spread rumors about our government, ministers and legislators.”
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Referring to his OPS Model adopted by other states including Himachal Pradesh, Gehlot at an official press conference at CM Residence, urged that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, shall also frame a ‘social security policy for differently abled persons, senior citizens, and aged women with a monthly pension of Rs.2000-3000.
“The burden on the exchequer will fall after 25 years. Why shouldn’t the employee who serves the government for 35 years be protected? Now is the era of social security. In developed countries, money is received in a week. Now the time has come Modiji, to implement social security in the country. Center gives an old age pension of 200 rupees, what happens to 200 rupees?Policy should be made in the whole country and everyone should get at least 2000 to 3000 rupees pension. In this, half the money should be given by the central government and half by the state”, Gehlot said.
Underling the success of his government, Gehlot claimed that in the last 3 years, the state government’s growth rate increased by Rs.3 lakh, per capita income got a boost by 26.81 percent, and the GDP growth was recorded in double digit of 11.04 per cent.
Seven percent of annual budget was spent on public health, and every district has the logistics support of one ICU and heavy financial outlay, he said. Over 8.85 lakh farmers’ electricity bill was zero, one crore people in the state have been given social security pension, CM added.
In the last 4 years, the state government has provided over 1.35 lakh jobs and over 1.25 lakh were in the pipeline of giving employment to youth, CM further maintained.
On the delay by the Union Government in giving a national project status to the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) covering 13 districts, the CM charged Union Jal Shakti Minister, G S Shekhawat, with misleading the people by giving modulated statements in the official meetings.
“We have made a provision of Rs. 9500 crores. The work did not stop until PM Modi declared it a national project, so we made a financial plan to continue the work to fulfill the water needs of 40 lakh people in 13 districts”, he clarified.
When asked how he managed the political crisis with the former Deputy CM, Sachin Pilot, in the last two and half years, Gehlot smiled saying, “When I take political retirement, I will take political class, all skills and experience will be taught in it “.
Next year’s fiscal budget would be devoted to youth, students and children, he announced.
