INDIA – Jan. 12, 2012
Keeping in view the Assembly elections in the five states, including politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, the government is set to extend its olive branch to lakhs of rickshawpullers, taxi and auto drivers and ragpickers by bringing them under the UPA’s flagship health insurance scheme — Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY). A proposal to this effect is high on the agenda of the Union Cabinet, which will meet on Thursday.
Incidentally, this is going to be the second such move ahead of the Assembly elections by the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre after it announced 4.5 per cent quota for minorities within 27 per cent reservation for OBCs. Such a decision by the Union government, if taken at the meeting of the Union Cabinet, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, may go against the Election Commission’s model code of conduct. Read “UPA move ahead of elections: Health insurance for ragpickers, drivers”
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