Opposition slams Yogi govt decision to transfer money to parents for kids’ uniforms as attempt to ‘buy votes’

With the assembly elections round the corner, the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh evidently wants to lure voters with money as it has come up with a scheme to transfer money directly to people.

It has decided to transfer money for the purchase of uniforms, sweaters, shoes and school bags directly to the accounts of parents of bonafide students.

The Chief Minister even got this decision approved by the state cabinet.

The UP government claims that Rs 1800 crore will be transferred through DBT in the bank accounts of parents of more than 1.60 crore students for buying their uniforms within the next two months. This scheme will benefit students of primary, upper primary schools and non-government aided primary / pre-secondary schools, it said, with parents getting Rs 1100 per child.

This scheme is over and above Kisan Samman Nidhi where farmers are given Rs 6000 per year.

A UP Government spokesman said, “The UP government has decided to transfer money to purchase a uniform, sweater, school bags, shoes and stockings to the accounts of the parents of students of class I to VIII. The money would be paid through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).”

The argument given by the official was that this will ensure a ‘transparent system’ as well as develop a market at the local level which in turn will generate self-employment opportunities in rural areas.

Opposition parties see this scheme as a ploy to ‘buy’ votes from the people. “This BJP government has failed on all fronts and therefore, it is looking for schemes to lure voters. This is the same government which had claimed last year that it has successfully provided sweaters, bags and other dresses to children. If that scheme was successful, why did it switch over to giving money directly to beneficiaries,” Amarnath Agarwal, a senior Congress leader, said.

SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhry said that people are fed up with the Yogi government’s policies which has led to inflation, a worsening law and order situation, atrocities against women and increase in unemployment.

“Now, it has come up with a scheme to send money directly to the beneficiaries. The cabinet decision is silent on the quality of dress material and from where the people will purchase that. This shows that the simple aim of the government is to give money to people before elections,” Chaudhry said.

It is to be noted that at present, free uniforms are provided to the students of classes 1 to 8 by UP Government. These are arranged through different processes.