UP cabinet approves Samajwadi Party’s polls sops

In its first cabinet meeting, the Uttar Pradesh government Thursday approved the promise made by the Samajwadi Party (SP) in its manifesto to distribute free laptops and tablets to students passing out of Class 10 and 12.

At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, the government also cleared installation of CCTV cameras at all major intersections in the state capital and take measures to ensure that encroachments of graveyards in uttar Pradesh were stopped.

Informing of the Cabinet decisions, Chief Secretary Anoop Mishra said that the government would provide for free laptops, tablets to all students passing out from Sanskrit Pathshaalas, Madarsas, UP Board, ICSE and CBSE.

Mishra further informed that in all about 25 lakh tablets and laptops each would be distributed this year.

The cabinet also approved another of its poll promise – unemployment allowance of Rs.1,000 to all unemployed persons below the age of 35 years. Under this head, the chief secretary said more than nine lakh unemployed would be covered and would cost the state excequer Rs.1,100 crores. The Uttar Pradesh cabinet also approved giving of Rs.30,000 each to all Muslim girls who passed Class 10.