Govt renames Indira Gandhi urban job guarantee scheme

Jaipur: State govt on Monday renamed Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme as Mukhyamantri Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme. The govt also added Aadhaar as one of the mandatory documents to apply for this scheme, surpassing the earlier requirement of only Jan Aadhaar.Through this scheme, the govt provides 100 days of employment every year to families living in urban areas. A senior official of local self government (LSG) department said that the govt issued a notification on Monday announcing the change of name of this scheme."This scheme was announced by former CM Ashok Gehlot in the budget for 2022-2023. The state govt spends about Rs 800 crore every year on this scheme, which has been renamed as Mukhyamantri Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme," said the official, who did not want to be quoted. "We have changed the logo of the scheme and replaced the photo of Indira Gandhi," the official added.The official said that residents of the state between ages of 18 and 60 years in local body areas can get 100 days of employment by registering themselves with either their Jan Aadhaar or Aadhaar cards. The decision of the state govt has drawn sharp criticism from Congress leaders. Former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyavas said the BJP govt had committed a great sin by changing the scheme's name."Ever since the BJP govt has been formed in Rajasthan, not a single person is being given employment under this scheme. The BJP govt has already stopped this scheme, and as such, there is no justification for changing its name. The govt should have understood that Indira Gandhi is known across the globe for her strength and for her contribution towards the development of India," Khachariyavas said.