CM Ashok Gehlot eyes Kerala social security model in Rajasthan to stay in power

JAIPUR: Chief minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to adopt the ‘Kerala model’ of social security while presenting the budget on February 10. Gehlot, while replying to the Governor's address in the assembly last week, said the CPM retained power in Kerala due to good Covid management and social security schemes and in Rajasthan too, the government would be repeated for its ‘excellent Covid management’.
In Kerala, the Left government had launched a ‘ration kit scheme’ for all families during Covid that continued till the assembly elections and was a major hit, especially among women. The kit supplied through PDS shops every month contained daily consumption items like wheat flour, rice, oil, pulses, and spices which have come as a major relief to people. It is claimed that the scheme played a major role in the Left Democratic Front (LDF) retaining power, beating the trend of changing government in every five years.
With smartphones to all 1.37 crore women registered under the Chiranjeevi scheme on the way, the ration kit could be a game changer to woo women voters.
The chief minister during the conclusion of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Alwar had promised that he will find ways to ameliorate the hardship of the people reeling under price rise and unemployment.
The chief minister has been a major advocate of social security. Apart from a hike in the already existing pension schemes, an old-age pension for farmers could be on the cards. An indication of relief to the common people could be gauged from the fact that for the first time, the state budget on February 10 is being given wide publicity with the tagline of “Bachat, Rahat and Badat” through banners and hoardings.
The chief minister had already announced that his last budget is dedicated to youth and students. However, what will be in store for them is to be seen.
There is no doubt that the budget will be a populist one. It is a do-or-die for the chief minister as it is his last chance to woo the voters before the elections. The chief minister has been under tremendous pressure from the ruling party MLAs on the demand for new districts. In order to pacify them, he had constituted a high-power committee under former IAS Ram Lubhaya to study the feasibility.
The demand for new districts is from various quarters. Minister Rajendra Singh Yadav was pressing for Kotputli to be made a new district while the demand for Beawar a new district was a long-standing one. Congress MLA Madan Prajapat (Panchparda) has denounced his footwear to press his demand for a new district of Balotra carved out of Barmer. There were similar demands from Neem Ka Thana, Behror, Nokha, Kama etc. However, how many the chief minister could oblige is anybody's guess.