JOIN USFor UP govt, laptops, tablets are a 'necessity'
The Opposition parties may be calling them nothing more than `jhunjhuna' (toys) and `useless' for the recipients, but the Samajwadi Party (SP) regime in Uttar Pradesh thinks that free laptops and tablets will go a long way in taking the internet revolution to the rural areas of the state and enable the students, especially from the villages, to compete with their urban counterparts.
While many doubt the economic viability of the schemes, especially in a state with a huge budget deficit and resource crunch for infrastructure projects, health and education sectors, the SP leaders strongly defend the schemes and refuse to term them doles. In fact, resource crunch, sources say, has come in the way of distribution of tablets to students who have passed out of 10th standard. The fiscal deficit in the state budget was pegged at Rs 21,570 crore for 2012-13, which is 2.96 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product. An amount of Rs 27,000 crore was earmarked for meeting the expenditure on the promises made by the party.
Deccan Herald correspondent Sanjay Pandey spoke to senior SP leader and UP minister Shivpal Singh Yadav on whether, after over a year's stint, the government has been able to achieve what it desired and if the monetary burden was proving to be too much.
There is a perception that promises of freebies like laptops and tablets for students contributed greatly to SP's assembly poll victory in 2012. Do you agree?
It is not correct. The people of the state do not have this perception. Laptops and tablets are not doles. In the modern times, they are necessities. They will help the students of the state in keeping themselves abreast with the latest developments taking place in the world. They will change their world completely. Besides the SP came to power with the support of the people. People have given us a positive mandate.
Political parties promise the moon to the electorate in the polls. Does it not amount to influencing the voters by luring them with doles?
We do not believe in making tall promises that cannot be implemented. We promise only what we can easily fulfill. Our promises do not result in wastage of money and resources. We are against luring the voters with hollow promises. And we have proved that there is no difference in our words and actions.
The freebies have become a huge burden on the economy of the state. Many say that they will drain the scarce resources. Your take.
They are not a burden. The state has enough resources to ensure proper implementation of the schemes.
We have made budgetary provisions for making the tablets and laptops available to the students free of cost. These schemes have in no way affected the development of the state. The government has drastically enhanced allocations in the health, education and other sectors.
There have been reports that the students have been selling their laptops at throwaway prices. Does it not show that the scheme has failed to achieve its purpose?
Such complaints have been received but the government has taken steps to prevent their sale in the open market. We have warned the students that stern action will be taken against them if they were found to have sold the machines in the market. FIR will also be lodged against them.
Will your party promise more freebies in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls?
We will do very well in the general elections because we have worked for the people. The people of the state will support us as they know the SP government has fulfilled its promises and delivered on all fronts.
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