The Budget has set the target of 5.1 per cent growth rate for the agriculture sector in the state, while allocating Rs 4,000 crore for distribution of tablets/smart phones to students.
The government of Uttar Pradesh unveiled its budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 on Monday, earmarking Rs 7.36 lakh crore for infrastructure development and the welfare of women, youths, and farmers.
Focusing on enhancing agricultural growth, the budget aims for a 5.1 per cent increase in the sector, alongside allotting Rs 4,000 crore for providing tablets/smartphones to students and Rs 1,750 crore for the development of ‘dharmarthmarg’ (roads to religious places).
Allocations include Rs 100 crore to the state’s culture department for hosting Mahakumbh-2025 and an additional Rs 2,500 crore for urban development to enhance city infrastructure.
The state government emphasized its commitment to uplifting youth, women, farmers, and the underprivileged.
To foster agricultural growth, Rs 460 crore has been designated for three new agriculture-related schemes.
Additionally, Rs 2,400 crore is proposed to provide electricity at subsidized rates to private tube wells of farmers, a 25 per cent increase from the previous fiscal year.
An allocation of Rs 449.45 crore is suggested for the implementation of PM Kusum Yojana, more than double the current fiscal’s allocation.
Under the MGNREGA rural job guarantee program, the state generated 28.68 crore man-days of employment for 75,24,000 workers in the current fiscal year, with a target of 33 crore man-days for 2024-2025.
The budget proposes Rs 4,000 crore for distributing tablets/smartphones under Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana, with over 25 lakh devices already distributed this year.
An allocation of over Rs 2,057 crore is proposed for the Ganga Expressway project, and Rs 500 crore for a new link expressway connecting the Agra-Lucknow and Purvanchal Expressways.
Under the Destitute Women Pension Scheme, the monthly benefit has been raised from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000, benefiting 31,28,000 women until the third quarter of 2023-2024.
The Women Farmer Empowerment Project aims to form 200 producer groups in the fiscal year 2024-2025, providing technical support.
For the National Rural Health Mission, a provision of Rs 7,350 crore is proposed, along with Rs 952 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission Yojana, and Rs 300 crore for Ayushman Bharat Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan in 2024-25.
In the financial year 2024-25, an allotment of Rs 322 crore has been proposed for the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.
Efforts have been made to facilitate cashless treatment at private hospitals affiliated with the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Rajya Karmchari Cashless Chikitsa Yojana, with an estimated expenditure of Rs 150 crore, borne by the state government.
Furthermore, the budget suggests Rs 400 crore for establishing a medical college in Varanasi district, Rs 125 crore for providing free medical facilities for incurable diseases, and Rs 300 crore for upgrading trauma centers in government medical colleges.
To attract foreign direct investment from top global companies, the state has introduced the ‘Foreign Direct Investment and Fortune 500 Companies Investment Promotion Policy 2023, allocating Rs 250 crore for its implementation.
For infrastructure development, Rs 2,881 crore is proposed for widening/strengthening state highways, while Rs 1,750 crore is allocated for the development of ‘dharmarthmargs’.
Additionally, Rs 3,000 crore is proposed for road maintenance, and Rs 2,500 crore for construction from the State Road Fund.
Rs 800 crore is earmarked for widening/strengthening/construction of 4-lane highways for industrial/logistics parks, and Rs 500 crore for roads in sugar mill areas for agricultural marketing facilities, with Rs 1,350 crore for railway over/under bridges, and Rs 1,500 crore for rural bridges.
To tackle traffic congestion, Rs 1,000 crore is proposed for flyovers and similar infrastructure in urban areas.
Water supply to farmers from canals and government tube wells will be provided free of cost, with an allocation of Rs 1,100 crore.
For river improvement and erosion prevention projects funded by NABARD, Rs 1,530 crore is allocated.
The Jal Jeevan Mission receives a provision of Rs 22,000 crore, including Rs 2,000 crore for maintenance.
Several airports including Aligarh, Azamgarh, Moradabad, Shravasti, and Chitrakoot have been developed for air connectivity. The development of Mayorpur (Sonbhadra) and Sarsawa (Saharanpur) airports is ongoing.
The ‘Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham’ in Ayodhya has been developed, with a proposed Rs 150 crore for its expansion.
An additional Rs 1,100 crore is allocated for the construction, expansion, and strengthening of airstrips and land acquisition in the next fiscal year.
Furthermore, Rs 1,150 crore is proposed for establishing an international airport and purchasing land in Jewar of Gautam Buddha Nagar district.
To ensure continuous power supply during summers, Rs 2,000 crore is allocated, marking a 33 per cent increase from the current fiscal.