Uttar Pradesh budget 2022: What about promise to double farmers’ income, asks Akhilesh Yadav

LUCKNOW: Leader of the opposition (LoP) in the state assembly Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday took on the ruling BJP for not making provisions in the state budget to ensure that farmers’ income is doubled in 2022 – “a deadline that BJP had set 6 years and 5 state budgets ago”.
“In its election manifesto six years ago, BJP had promised that if voted to power, its government will double farmers’ income by 2022. The budget presented today is silent on how the government plans to double their income this year,” he said, adding that on the contrary, growing prices of seeds and diesel have only brought down the profit margins of the farmers. “The problem is that prices of essential commodities, including pulses and cooking oil, have increased but the price rise and prosperity have not percolated down to the poor farmers,” Akhilesh said talking to reporters in Vidhan Sabha.
The former UP CM said the unemployed youth who have been waiting for jobs will be disillusioned by the budget. “The government has a mastery in jugglery of statistics. The government statistics talk of employment and jobs, but the reality at the ground level is different,” he said. “Why doesn’t the government come out with details of jobs provided to the youth so far. They should make a website and upload details of all those who have got the job,” he said.
Akhilesh pointed out that the government had promised to provide wheat, rice, cooking oil, salt and pulses to the poor but has not announced if adequate arrangements have been made in the budget to ensure that this ration will be given to the poor free of cost throughout the year. “The government has now decided that wheat will not be given to the poor. The government is also mum on the duration for which this scheme will continue,” he said. The SP national president asked the government about provisions and steps taken to ensure that private sugar mills are making payments to the sugarcane farmers.
“Primary education has been hit the worst during the BJP regime. During the SP regime, we made provisions to provide milk to schoolchildren thrice a week as a part of the mid-day meal but it has been discontinued. Classes have resumed but students have not been provided with textbooks and copies,” he said. Akhilesh said the government has compromised with technical specifications of the Purvanchal Expressway which has taken its toll on the riding quality. “Centre is extending financial assistance for the Delhi – Mumbai Expressway. Why isn’t the Centre extending similar help for expressways in UP?” he said.