97 manifesto promises in Uttar Pradesh budget; focus on farmers, youth, women

LUCKNOW: The spotlight was on BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' -- the manifesto -- for the 2022 UP elections as finance minister Suresh Khanna presented a Rs 6.15 lakh crore budget with a focus on farmers, women and youth. This was the biggest budget of the state so far -- 12% bigger than the previous one -- and the first of the second tenure of Yogi Adityanath government.
Khanna, who presented his fourth consecutive budget, has made provisions for 97 out of 130 promises made in BJP's 'Sankalp Patra'. An allocation of Rs 55,000 crore has been made for the purpose. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath later announced that 44 out of these 97 promises are new schemes. The rest are being carried forward from previous years. He also said that a supplementary budget would be tabled in December.

This is the first budget after two years of Covid-induced slowdown and the ebbing impact of the lockdown has given a hope of brisk economic revival to the government. The previous two budgets were impacted by the pandemic and the state's fiscal responsibility and budget management (FRBM) limit had shot beyond 4% in 2021-2022. Incidentally, the Centre, too, had increased the FRBM limit to 4.5%, keeping in mind the pandemic. However, hoping that the economy would be back on track this year, the Yogi government has set an FRBM limit of 3.96% against the now permissible 4%.
Reiterating its pledge to make UP a 1 trillion dollar economy, Khanna said that now the state had come out of slowdown and there was an improvement in the state's economic condition. He bolstered his point through a couplet: "Manzil unhi ko milti hai, jinke sapnon mein jaan hoti hai. Pankh se kucch nahin hota, hausalon mein udaan hoti hai" (Those who dream, achieve their goals; it's not your wings, but your courage that makes you fly).
Thrust on improving line losses and power pilferage
Focusing on incorporating maximum poll promises that paved the way for the BJP's repeat victory in UP, the first by any party in the past 37 years, the Yogi government has made budgetary provision worth over Rs 39,181 crore for new schemes. In the previous budget, new schemes worth Rs 29,000 crore had been introduced.
These schemes include installation of solar street lights in all villages under the newly launched scheme in the name of former chief minister Kalyan Singh, who was also known as the mascot of Hindutva of the 90s. The scheme has been named 'Babu Ji Kalyan Singh Gram Unnati Yojna'. Rs 22.5 crore has been earmarked for it.

However, the biggest thrust has been given on improving the line losses and pilferage of electricity by launching a new scheme called Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. The scheme being launched with the help of the central government would be worth Rs 31,000 crore. The aim of the scheme is to complete the project of distribution in three years for which the state government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 5,530 crore.
While the government has launched new schemes in the name of saffron icons like Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Kalyan Singh, social and caste icons like Sant Ravidas, Kabir and Nishad Raj have also been given their due with new projects and centres being launched in their names. One of such schemes -- Nishadraj Board Subsidy Project -- will provide 40% subsidy on boats worth Rs 1 lakh purchased by the Nishad community members.
While Hindutva theme has dominated several schemes, the government has also focused on opening new colleges and universities. Allocations have been made to a project to start universities in all the divisions which are unserved so far. Besides, work on opening 75 new colleges across the state was already on. The government has also targeted to double MBBS seats in state medical colleges.
To strengthen the law and order machinery, a provision of Rs 276 crore has been made for creation of UP Special Security Forces. The personnel would be deployed at Allahabad high court and Lucknow bench, Metro stations, religious places, Taj Mahal, airports, banks, industrial setups, and other important institutions. Similarly, Rs 523 crore has been earmarked under safe city scheme for women's safety and security.
For youths, the government has put special focus on job creation. In its bid to give employment to at least one member of over 4.5 crore families of the state, a survey has already started. Besides Rs 1,500 crore has been allocated for distribution of tablets and smartphones among students.
For farmers, the government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore under Mukhyamantri Laghu Sinchai Yojana. Besides, 15,000 solar pumps will be installed . The government also proposed distribution of 60.20 lakh quintal seeds to farmers. Moreover, the budget proposes Rs 650 crore for accidental insurance of farmers under Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatana Kalyan Yojana. Besides, Rs 1,340 crore has been earmarked for payment to sugarcane farmers.
A provision of Rs 6,571 crore made for free ration and LPG cylinder distribution among the poor. Besides the government has raised the pension amount to be given to elderly, destitute women and physically challenged.