Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has penned a letter to Prime Minister Modi ahead of his upcoming visit to Ajmer on February 28. Gehlot expressed concerns about the discontinuation and weakening of various public welfare schemes that were initiated during the previous Congress government. He referenced a prior assurance by the Prime Minister in Chittorgarh on October 2, 2023, promising not to halt but strengthen existing welfare schemes if a BJP government came into power in Rajasthan.
Gehlot highlighted that despite the assurance, several schemes considered national models have either been stopped, watered down, or made ineffective due to budget cuts and administrative alterations. He specifically mentioned issues with the implementation of the Right to Health Act, the Gig Workers Welfare Act, the Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship for Academic Excellence, and the Indira Rasoi Yojana, now called Annapurna Rasoi.
The former CM also pointed out the discontinuation of the second phase of the Indira Gandhi Smartphone Scheme, limitations in the implementation of the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme, and operational challenges faced by the Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme and the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme. Gehlot raised concerns over the free electricity scheme, distribution of Annapurna ration kits, and the discontinuation of new applications under the Indira Gandhi Credit Card Scheme.
In addition to the welfare schemes, Gehlot highlighted several incomplete or non-operational infrastructure projects initiated during his tenure. He mentioned projects like the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Governance and Social Sciences, a coaching hub in Jaipur, a superspecialty inpatient department tower, and planned satellite hospitals in Kanota and Achrol that have not been operationalized. The former CM also noted non-functional hospitals in Shivdaspura and Balmukundpura, along with incomplete schools across the state.
