Sonia highlights UPA schemes in parl constituency

With Lok Sabha polls not too far away, Congress President Sonia Gandhi signalled that the ambitious Food Security and Land Acquisition Acts brought in by the Centre would give a new deal to the people, especially the farmers and the poor.

"For the benefit of farmers, the historic Land Acquisition Act was passed by the Centre. Now, nobody can forcibly grab land from poor farmers. Further, it is now mandatory that land can only be acquired with the consent of farmers and after paying the adequate prices," Sonia said during a day-long visit to her parliamentary constituency of Rae Bareli.

She was speaking at the foundation stone-laying function for a rail wheel plant in her constituency's Lalganj.

Turning to the Food Security Bill, the Congress President said that "despite all the obstacles, troubles and hindrances, we could get the bill passed in Parliament".

The Act will benefit 75 per cent of the rural and 50 per cent of the urban population of Uttar Pradesh, she said.

"At present, Centre gives about 66 lakh tonnes of foodgrain to Uttar Pradesh; after implementation of the Act, the state's share will increase to 96 lakh tonnes. Thus, 80 per cent of the rural and 60 per cent of the urban population in UP will be able to get foodgrain at subsidised rates," she said.

But there were still many issues left to be solved, she added. "I want to tell you that we are doing whatever possible for the people here with honesty and sincerity," she said.

Railways and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd have entered into an agreement for setting up a forged wheel plant at Lalganj at an investment of Rs 1,100 crore in the first phase.

The project promises about 600 jobs while 2,000 others would benefit indirectly. The railways will lease 40 acres to the RINL for 30 years to set up the factory. The factory will produce one lakh forged wheels annually to cater to the demand from LHB coaches and high-speed locos.