Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) Attacking the centre over high food prices which were “impacting the pace of development”, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Saturday asked for more central funds to tackle development deficit in many areas.

Speaking at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting, Mayawati said the common man is suffering due to high inflation and the situation on high prices of essential prices was serious.

“The consumers are suffering because of price rise,” said Mayawati, adding that “uncertainties created by higher inflation have an adverse effect on investment thus impacting the pace of development”.

Stating that the central package worth Rs.7,266 crore sanctioned in 2009 for backward regions like Bundelkhand and Purvanchal was inadequate, the chief minister said the centre should fund 90 percent of the total expenditure for implementing the Right to Education Act.

She also said the centre would have to play an important role in dealing with the Japanese Encephalitis incidence in eastern and Terai regions of the state.

Mentioning that there is a big backlog of about 30 lakh homeless families in Uttar Pradesh, she said the centre should enlarge the size of the Indira Avas Yojana in the 12th Plan.

Pointing out that the number of central welfare schemes increased significantly during the 11th Plan which, she said, brought a lot of financial strain on the state’s resources, Mayawati asked for reduction in the number of such welfare schemes.

She also said that the approach paper for the 12th Five Year Plan does not reflect the suggestions made by the states and added that the NDC is an appropriate forum to discuss challenges of poverty and regional disparities.

She also attacked the centre over “discrimination” among states, claiming that while a big state like Uttar Pradesh has been allotted only one coal block, that too partially, some smaller states have been allotted more blocks.

“This is not fair. We have requested for six coal blocks,” she said.