With farmers in Uttar Pradesh Accounting for a sizeable chunk of voters, the state government's annual budget for the next financial year has set a target of 5.1 per cent growth rate for the agriculture sector in the state in an election year.
A substantial amount of Rs 460 crore has been earmarked for three new agriculture-related schemes in the budget.
Presenting the budget in the state assembly on Monday, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said that the target is to achieve the growth rate of 5.1 per cent for the agriculture sector.
One of the schemes announcedby him is State Agricultural Development Scheme with a provision of Rs 200 crore. Another Rs 200 crore has been allocated for the World Bank-assisted UP Agris Scheme, while the third scheme for the installation of automatic weather station-automatic rain gauge in blocks and panchayats has been allocated Rs 60 crore.
He further said that the Chief Minister Khet Suraksha yojna (Farm Security Scheme) is also being started with a provision of Rs 50 crore. Besides, an outlay of Rs 2,400 crore has been proposed for providing electricity at concessional rates to private tube wells of farmers. The amount is 25 per cent more than the budget for the same provided in the current financial year.
Under the Women Farmer Empowerment Project, the target is to provide technical support by forming 200 producer groups in the financial year 2024-2025, the minister said.
The budget for financial year 2024-25 has an allocation of Rs 7.36 lakh crore, seeking to prioritise infrastructure development as well as welfare of women, youths and farmers.
The policies of the state are particularly dedicated to the upliftment of the youth, women, farmers, and the underprivileged sections.
For the operation of various programs under the National Rural Health Mission, a provision of Rs 7,350 crore has been proposed in the financial year 2024-2025.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission Yojana, a provision of Rs 952 crore is proposed for the establishment of health and wellness centres, integrated public health labs in rural and urban areas, and Rs 300 crore is proposed in the financial year 2024-25 for Ayushman Bharat Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan, Khanna said. Rs 322 crore has been proposed for the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana in the financial year 2024-25.
Arrangements for cashless treatment have been made in private hospitals affiliated to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Rajya Karmchari Cashless Chikitsa Yojana. An estimated expenditure of Rs 150 crore is anticipated for this, which is being borne by the state government, the minister said in the budget speech.