Achievements of Governments in BJP-Ruled States

THE Bharatiya Janata Party has provided the people with a clean, efficient and purposeful administration in the States where it is in power. We have pursued pro-people policies, implemented programmes that have benefited millions of lives and, above all, maintained peace and communal amity. Peace and prosperity for all has been the hallmark of our State Governments in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra (where we share power with the Shiv Sena), Punjab (where we share power with the Akali Dal) and Haryana (where we share power with the Haryana Vikas Parishad). In Uttar Pradesh, although the BJP has been in power for a few months now, far-reaching decisions have been taken and action initiated to restore rule of law in a State that had come to represent "jungle raj" during prolonged Central rule. Attempts have been made by our adversaries to destabilize these Governments, but they have failed.

With a firm, but fair, hand our State Governments have cracked down on criminal and anti-national activities. The criminal-politician-bureaucrat nexus that had emerged during Congress rule in these States has been smashed. In Maharashtra, the underworld mafia has been put on the run. Our Governments have attached significant attention to maintaining law and order, which has contributed to the economic well-being of the masses. Complaints of corruption have been vigorously followed up with impartial inquiries. Prompt action was taken wherever it was called for without fear or favor.

Special attention has also been paid to the problems of farmers and socially disadvantaged sections of society. Women's issues have been addressed to through innovative schemes. Health, education and nutrition have been given top priority as these issues affect the common man the most. All efforts have been made to mobilize resources for development without burdening the people with fresh taxes. Infrastructure and job-generating industry have been the focus of our attention.

We are proud to list some of the salient achievements of our State Governments.

Rajasthan

1. Adoption of a new Industrial Policy aimed at rapid industrialization and employment-generation. Increased investment in small-scale sector. Higher investment inflow.
2. Setting up of institutions for imparting technical education. New polytechnics have been opened, including eight exclusively for women.
3. Implementation of special schemes for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes. Increased budgetary allocations and effective targeting of funds. Focus on education and health facilities. Special norms adopted for development projects and the setting up of health care facilities.
4. Introduction of schemes for the welfare and empowerment of women. Special focus on women's education and health. Before the BJP took charge, only nine districts were covered by women's welfare schemes. Today, 31 districts are covered by innovative schemes based on community participation. Steps have been taken to protect the interests of the girl child, infancy through adolescence.
5. Access to primary education in all districts through effective implementation of literacy mission. Special incentives introduced to encourage families to send their children to school and lower the dropout rate;
6. Improvement of villages and urban centres through participatory development schemes. The Government pays part of the expenses; the people contribute the rest.

Maharashtra

1. Rapid infrastructure development with focus on power generation and roads. High infusion of investments and setting up of new industries.
2. Improved health services and increased access to healthcare for the economically underprivileged. Assured food security through innovative "jhunka-bhakar" scheme which provides the poor a meal for as little as one rupee.
3. Crackdown on underworld criminals and trouble-makers. Steps to break nexus between mafia and some sections of the film industry. Strict maintenance of law and order, thus preventing any communal violence which was a regular feature in Congress days.
4. Ensured supply of power for pumps which has directly benefited 200,000 farmers. Construction of 400,000 lavatories in rural areas, thus ensuring hygiene and preventing communicable diseases.
5. Allocation of Rs. 1,200 crore for increasing drinking water supply. The target: Potable water for every citizen.
6. Concessional travel for elderly citizens aged above 65 on State Transport buses. They have to pay only 50 per cent of the ticket price. Girl students will be offered free travel facilities.
7. Introduction of employment and education programmes for women and girls. Legislative action to provide women with equal rights and dignity.

Uttar Pradesh

1. Revamping of law and order machinery and restoration of rule of law. Offensive launched against criminals and action initiated against policemen with criminal links, resulting in a fall in crimes.
2. Prevention of crimes against Dalits through alert administration. Prompt action against those committing atrocities against Dalits.
3. Cleansing administration of corrupt elements. Inquiries initiated into several cases of corruption to bring the guilty to book.
4. Ensuring panchayats and municipalities become economically self-sufficient. Greater functional autonomy for local self-government bodies.
5. Generation of employment. Reducing scope for corrupt practices by making the process of employment more transparent.
6. Stamp paper no longer mandatory for registration. Simple and corruption-free alternatives put into place to stop harassment.
7. New scheme to pay cane-growers through banks. New molasses policy to benefit producers under consideration. Kisan Seva Kendras set up to help farmers.
8. Steps to increase power generation and improve distribution. Special programme to increase investment in industry. Plan initiated to improve road conditions.

Delhi

1. Municipal elections held after fifteen years. All efforts to improve civic amenities. Steps initiated for better distribution of power and ensure water supply.
2. Nine districts and 27 tehsils created for better administration and effective grievance-redressal.
3. Shelter for economically weaker sections of society. Financial assistance to pregnant, scheduled caste women. Social and economic rehabilitation of scavengers.
4. Old-age pension increased by 100 per cent. More people brought under pension cover. Old age homes opened for the elderly. Jan Arogya health insurance scheme for indigent elderly people.
5. Distribution of Rs. 100 crore for the welfare of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. All help extended to people displaced from Kashmir Valley due to terrorism.
6. Ban on lottery and liquor advertisements; smoking banned in public places. Strict enforcement of excise laws.
7. Pension for freedom fighters doubled from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000. Financial assistance to widows for the marriage of their daughters. Special assistance, including scholarships, for the disabled.

Haryana

1. All-time high procurement price for sugarcane; liberal licensing for manufacture of molasses. Arrears in sugar mill payments to cane-growers more or less cleared.
2. Total prohibition on liquor. This has led to remarkable increase in small savings and decrease in drinking-related violence.
3. New power plants being set up to increase power availability for domestic, farm and industrial use.
4. Steps to make process of employment more transparent and ensure that the deserving get jobs. Cut-back in avoidable Government expenditure. Discretionary powers to allocate land removed.
5. Rapid industrialization through special projects. Several new industrial units have been set up, generating jobs and higher levels of income. Sales tax on several items has been reduced to give a boost to trade.
6. Focus on education and health for all; new schools and health care facilities have been set up in rural and urban areas. Special programmes for the welfare of the socially disadvantaged sections of society.

Punjab

1. Maintenance of law and order. Strict vigil kept on disruptive elements and pre-emptive action taken to nip mischief in the bud.
2. Farmers given free electricity to operate tubewells and free canal water for irrigation. All-time high wheat prices and price differential between fine and superfine rice removed.
3. New projects to make Punjab a "power surplus" State. Incentives for setting up new industrial units.
4. Innovative Dalit welfare schemes introduced. Shagun scheme for Dalit girls; free electricity for Dalit households; and, loans for Dalits to build homes.
5. Initiative on the education and health fronts. Medical and technical universities planned. There will soon be a science city and an electronics city.

One of our unique achievements has been the setting up of a Council of Chief Ministers of the States where we are in power. This Council has been established with the purpose of greater co-ordination among the BJP-ruled States. The Council also articulates, from time to time, the aspirations of the States vis-_-vis the Centre. It has played a major role in formulating fiscal demands of the States and in seeking to resolve problems plaguing Centre-State relations. The Council has formally met thrice-in Gandhinagar, Mumbai and in Jaipur. After each meeting, a document has been released, listing areas of commonality, programmes of action and suggested measures for the Union Government for harmonious relations with the State Governments.