Cong will end Bhamashah scheme if voted to power: Raje

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Wednesday said if the Congress is voted to power in Rajasthan, it is planning to discontinue the Bhamashah scheme — the BJP government’s flagship welfare scheme.

“The Congress is planning to discontinue the Bhamashah scheme, a one-of-its-kind scheme in the world that empowers women. It has also ended corruption by transferring the money directly to the account of the beneficiary. Do you want this scheme to be discontinued? If not, then don’t bring such people to power who talk about discontinuing schemes that have made women self-reliant,” Raje said. She was addressing a public rally at Senawasa village in Ghatol tehsil of Banswara district on the fifth day of the Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra.

The government’s website describes the Bhamashah scheme as a direct benefit transfer scheme aimed at effective service delivery and women empowerment. Under this scheme, bank account and Bhamashah cards are made in the name of the woman beneficiary of the house. It empowers her to be the decision-maker of the family, for effective use of all cash and non-cash benefits under various public welfare schemes of the government.

Raje said that the Congress ruled for 50 years and the party made many promises which have remained unfulfilled. She said that the BJP will be holding ‘Vishav Janjati Kalyan Diwas’, which aims to bring people belonging to the scheduled caste back into the mainstream.

The chief minister has also announced a holiday on August 9 for tribal sub-plan areas (TSP) in Rajasthan to mark International Tribal Day. The collectors in these regions have been authorised to declare the holiday on August 9.

On Wednesday, the Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra reached Pratapgarh in the evening. The first leg of the Gaurav Yatra, which was launched on Saturday, will be passing through the Udaipur division.

The chief minister will be touring 165 of the 200 assembly constituencies covering a stretch of more than 6,000 km.

The yatra is slated to conclude in Pushkar, Ajmer with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally.

After the conclusion of the yatra, major programmes will be organised in the remaining 35 assembly constituencies before the assembly elections to ensure that the message of “good governance” reaches the people.

First Published: Aug 08, 2018 23:02 IST