Mayawati launches Rs 7,312 cr welfare schemes on her birthday

She launched the "UP Chief Minister Mahamaya Garib Arthik Sahayta Yojna" for those deprived of benefits under the BPL and Antodaya schemes.

Mayawati said under the scheme, they would be paid Rs 300 per month directly in six monthly instalments.

"The first phase of the scheme would cover 30 lakh beneficiries and the remaining would be taken up in the next phase," she said.

Mayawati said complete transparency would be maintained in identifying the beneficiaries under the scheme as the selection will be done at open meetings of the gram sabhas.

The Chief Minister said she had been requesting the Centre for granting a special economic package to the state ever since she took over the charge in 2007 and rued that her efforts have not brought the state a "single penny".

The state government has been implementing welfare schemes by generating its own resources, she said.

She also released the Hindi and English version of the fifth volume of her book titled "A travelogue of my struggle- ridden life and BSP movement".