Lucknow: The Founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mrs. Melinda Gates along with her colleagues ? Family Health, Global Health Programme Director Gary Darmstadt, Director of Foundation Mr. Ashok Alexander, Chief of Staff Jeffrey Spector and Ms. Usha Kiran, Senior Programme Officer met the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati at her official residence here today. She held detailed discussions on
various programmes of Medical, Health and Family Welfare being conducted all over the State by the Foundation. She also discussed future plans. The Chief Minister thanked Mrs. Melinda Gates for taking interest in Uttar Pradesh and said that the State Government would extend full cooperation in the efforts being made by the Foundation.

Speaking to Mrs. Melinda, the Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati said that the Vidhan Sabha elections of the state were held in the year 2007 and her party got clear mandate in it after 16 year long political instability. She said that she had inherited nothing politically. Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji had founded BSP by uniting poor and dalits and because of the poor she got majority. She said that her priority was to serve the poor people. But, when she came to power the law and order situation of the state was very poor. After streamlining the same, various welfare schemes for the poor were implemented. She said that Ambedkar Gram Sabha Vikas Yojna had been implemented in the name of the Architect of the Constitution, Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar. This scheme was being implemented all over the state, she added.

The Chief Minister said that Mahamaya Garib Balika Ashirwad Yojna and Savitri Bai Phule Balika Shiksha Madad Yojna had been implemented with a view to helping the poor girls of the state. Besides, Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji Shahri Garib Awas Yojna and Sarvajan Hitai Shahri Garib Makan (slum area) Malikana Haq Yojna had been implemented for the benefit of poor. Moreover, U.P. Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Garib Arthik Madad Yojna had also been implemented for the benefit of BPL families. She said that her government had paid special attention to improve Medical, Health and Family welfare services in the state. Earlier, the poor people could not afford treatment because of financial constraints. The state government had provided various facilities to the deprived and poor people, so that they could also get better medical facilities in the government hospitals.

During the meeting, Mrs. Melinda Gates informed C.M. that the Foundation was especially focussing on child care, mother health, polio and T.B. eradication. She also assured that the Foundation would invest Rs. 250 crore for the welfare of mother and child. She said that the Foundation was also exploring various possibilities of coordination with the State Government.

Mrs. Gates said that the Foundation also wanted to extend its cooperation in those areas, which were so far untouched by the Medical, Health and Family Welfare services. She said that the Foundation was currently conducting schemes worth Rs. 500 crore in the State. She said that the Foundation's expenses in the State were the highest. Besides, the Foundation was also interested in enhancing its contribution to
improve the health indicators of the State.

Welcoming Foundation's resolve, the Chief Minister assured Mrs. Melinda Gates that the State Government would extend its full cooperation in the efforts being made by the same and a formal shape would also be given to these efforts. She said that an MOU would be signed between the State Government and the Foundation.

The Chief Minister, welcoming Mrs. Melinda Gates and her colleagues, said that after several years of political instability in U.P., the people of the State gave opportunity to her party to form a majority government in May 2007. After almost two decades her party had formed a stable government in the state. She said that after assuming power all possible efforts had been made to create a strong structure to
provide medical, health and family welfare services to all the people of the state with special focus on the poor people.

Ms. Mayawati said that owing to the serious efforts made by the State Government, the poor people were getting the benefit of better medical services now. The State Government, through its limited resources, was making special efforts to improve the Medical and Health facilities in the state, so that people could get easy
access to these facilities, she added. The cooperation of NGOs is also sought in it, she said.

The Chief Minister said that she was informed that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had been working for the welfare of the destitute of the world. She expressed her gratitude towards the interest shown by the Foundation in Uttar Pradesh. She expressed the hope that the Foundation would make large contribution in
the field of Medical, Health and Family Welfare.

The Chairman of the U.P. Advisory Council, Mr. Satish Chandra Mishra, Chief Secretary Mr. Atul Kumar Gupta, Additional Cabinet Secretary Mr. Netram, Principal Secretary to C.M. Mr. Shailesh Krishna and other Secretaries to C.M., Principal Secretary Medical, Health and Family Welfare Mr. Pradeep Shukla, D.G. Medical & Health Dr. R.R. Bharti and other officers were present on the occasion.