UP government approves rural tourism policy

Uttar Pradesh government today approved a rural tourism policy for the overall development of rural tourism in the state.
Under the policy, which was cleared at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, villages close to main tourism spots or tourist circuits having tourism potential will be identified and provided funds for development.
Havelis built before 1950 in such villages will be given maximum funds of Rs 5 lakh for developing housing facilities in them, an official release said, adding that Rural Tourism Management Committees (RTMC) led by district magistrates will be set up for preparing management plans for such villages.

The cabinet also gave its consent to run an amended Kanya Vidyadhan Yojna for meritorious girl students in 2015 who have successfully passed intermediate examination from ICSE, CBSE or UP Board in all the districts.
A target of benefiting 99,000 girl students which include 20 per cent from minorities and 21 per cent from among the SCs/STs has been fixed for which district-wise merit list will be prepared, the release said adding that each meritorious student will get Rs 30,000.
A budgetary allocation of Rs 300 crore has been made for 2015-16 for the purpose, it said.
The cabinet also approved increasing the retirement age of workers of UP Remote Sensing Application Centre from 58 to 60 years and providing mobile SIM facility to Group C employees of Vidhan Sabha secretariat through the CUG scheme.