Mayawati announces bonanza for Dalits
April 16th, 2008 - 3:27 pm ICT by admin
Agra, April 16 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has announced a big sop for Dalits removing all taxes on shoes that cost up to Rs.300. The concession, announced at a mammoth rally late Tuesday evening at Bhim Nagri in Kotla Bagichi here, is expected to give a fillip to the shoe manufacturing industry, mostly in the cottage and tiny sectors and employing over 200,000 people.
The Bahujan Samaj Party chief announced a dozen-odd welfare schemes that are expected to help her consolidate her vote bank.
Apart from declaring Aligarh as a new divisional headquarter and Kasganj a new district named after Kanshi Ram, Mayawati announced setting up of a new “Joota Mandi” - a wholesale market for leather products including shoes - on 250 acres of land, opening up fresh employment avenues for traders and small manufacturers.
For the tourism sector, most heartening was the decision to hold events year-round in the Shilpgram complex, 500 metres from the Taj Mahal. Presently, it sees activity for barely ten days a year during the Taj Mahotsava in February.
Mayawati inaugurated a Rs.11.9 billion Gangajal project for Agra, and announced construction of new bridges in the district and three flyovers to ease traffic pressure here. Besides, the Ambedkar Park near Agra Fort will benefit under a Rs.50 million beautification plan.
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- Taj city hosts biggest Dalit power show - Apr 14, 2011
- SP's poll sop sparks law and order scare - Mar 13, 2012
- Taj festival a letdown, feels tourism industry - Feb 28, 2011
- Love to be food of music at Taj festival - Feb 16, 2010
- Ten-day Taj Mahotsav to begin Friday - Feb 17, 2011
- New manufacturing policy to boost growth, create 100 million jobs - Jun 10, 2011
- Agra fest postponement upsets tourism industry - Jan 01, 2012
- International shoe fair in Agra - Oct 29, 2010
- Sunny morning in Agra lights up residents, tourists - Feb 21, 2012
- Vote Congress to transform UP, says Rahul Gandhi - Feb 14, 2012
Tags: agra fort, aligarh, bahujan samaj party, chief minister, dalits, fillip, flyovers, joota, kanshi ram, leather products, manufacturing industry, party chief, rs 50, sop, tourism sector, traffic pressure, tuesday evening, vote bank, welfare schemes, wholesale market