Buoyed by the Samajwadi Party’s success in the recent by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the people had reiterated their faith in the party as well as in “Netaji” (Mulayam Singh).
Without naming the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr. Yadav said the people’s support enabled the Samajwadi Party to defeat the party that was trying to change the direction of politics.
Speaking at a function to mark the launch of several labour welfare schemes at his residence on Friday, Mr. Yadav hoped that the people would continue to support the Samajwadi Party. He credited his father and SP chief Mulayam Singh for taking a decision to field candidates drawn from a humble background in the recent by-elections.
In this context, Mr. Yadav introduced Bansidhar Bauddh, the winner from the Balha (Reserved) Assembly constituency and said that Mr. Bauddh was an unknown face before the elections. Introducing Vachaspati, the winner from Sirathu ( Kaushambi district ), Mr. Yadav said he succeeded in getting the support of the Pasi samaj.
New schemesMr. Yadav said the Labour Department was not considered a high-profile department, yet the “labour welfare schemes were directly associated with the people”. About 14 lakh registered labourers are engaged in the unorganised sector of the economy, mainly in construction business in the state. Mr. Yadav announced an increase in the compensation given to the next of the kin of labourers who died during the construction of a building under the UP Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board.
The compensation has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs.5 lakh, he said.
He also said efforts would be made to provide balanced diet to labourers by opening canteens at the construction sites.
The Bicycle Aid Scheme, Solar Energy Aid Scheme, Housing Aid Scheme and Maternity Benefit Scheme for the welfare of registered labourers were launched by the Chief Minister.
