Click to play videoNew Delhi:The UPA government has already begun making moves that depict its gearing up for the forthcoming elections. The cabinet today opened its bag of feel-good sops.
All schemes are aimed specifically at some of its key constituency like the Other Backward Communities (OBCs) and the minorities.
The pressure from the southern allies in the election year is showing and therefore high on the priority list was the proposal before the union cabinet to increase the creamy layer income limit from the current Rupees 2.5 lakh per annum to Rupees 4.5 lakh.
The union government had earlier decided to extend quota benefit to the creamy layer. But the proposal was struck down by the Supreme Court.
The pro-OBC lobby in the cabinet was demanding an increase in the creamy layer limit so that more backward students could be accommodated.
This is in response to the Supreme Court having ordered de-reserving of vacant OBC seats for general category.
“This is in keeping with the economic changes which have taken place since February 2004, when income category was last revised,” said Information and Broadcast Minister, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.
Friday's cabinet agenda had telltale signs of a government preparing for polls.
A special scheme for madarasa modernisation was cleared, the cabinet approved setting up of 16 more central universities. If that was not all, 73 days’ wages as productivity linked bonus to the railway employees was cleared
Later in the day, the government-appointed committee recommended 70 per cent pay hike for teachers in universities and colleges.
“Teachers should be looked upon in their own right. Teachers have a distinct role,” urged the Chairman of the Pay Review Committee, Professor G K Chaddha.
The government now faces increasing pressure to meet the demands of a number of constituencies.
This cabinet meet was essential from that point of view.
It took a careful look at the wish list of different allies and the electorate.
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