Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh (UP) chief minister Yogi Adityanath has reiterated his unwavering focus on the rural economy and farmers’ issues.
By tabling its first UP Annual Budget 2022-23 here on May 26, the Yogi government 2.0, which came to power in March this year, has dexterously taken the agenda forward by allocating more than Rs 30,000 crore for agriculture, allied activities, rural economy and strengthening the farm infrastructure and value chain.
The Budget, tabled by UP finance minister Suresh Khanna in the state legislature, of more than Rs 6,15,000 crore is 10 per cent higher than the previous UP Annual Budget 2021-22 of nearly Rs 5,50,000 tabled last year by Yogi regime 1.0 (2017-22).
According to the UP Budget documents, a provision of Rs 7,000 crore has been made for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), while a provision of Rs 508 crore has been proposed for the scheme for the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).
Under the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission, a provision of Rs 156 crore has been made for the current financial year. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana gets an allocation of Rs 7,374 crore.
The National Rural Livelihood Mission has received a proposed budget of Rs 3,155 crore for an array of vital components.
To strengthen the economic condition of the state panchayats based on the recommendations of the 15th Central Finance Commission, a provision of Rs 7,466 crore has been proposed for the Panchayati Raj Institutions.
A provision of Rs 1,788 crore has been proposed under Swachchha Bharat Mission (Rural) Scheme, while Rs 540 crore would be spent for capacity enhancement, training and infrastructure development in the panchayats under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan Yojana.
A provision of Rs 10 crore has been proposed for the Sampoorna Parivar Survekshan Uttar Pradesh Yojana.
A provision of Rs 97 crore has been made for a land and water management scheme for the coastal area of Nirmal Ganga under the Namami Gange Cleanliness Campaign.
Meanwhile, Rs 1,000 crore has been set aside for setting the UP sugarcane farmers’ dues.
Besides, Rs 380 crore has been proposed to be incurred for the renovation and modernization of sugar mills and the establishment of new plants.
A provision of Rs 60 crore will be offered for strengthening and reviving milk unions in the state, while Rs 8 crore will be spent for constructing a new dairy plant of 3,000 litres per day capacity in Mathura.
Almost Rs 80 crore will be spent on the under-construction greenfield dairy plant in Varanasi and Meerut districts.
To boost aquaculture, Mukhyamantri Matsya Sampada Yojana will be started to make fish farmers financially self-sufficient with an allocation of Rs 2 crore.
The Nishadraj Boat Subsidy Scheme has been proposed to help fishing leaseholders and fishermen of Gram Sabha ponds to purchase boats, for which a provision of Rs 2 crore has been proposed.
Meanwhile, a provision of Rs 121 crore has been proposed for espousing horticulture and food processing under the Pradhan Mantri Khadya Udyog Unnayan Yojana to provide training, new technology, marketing and credit facilities to the food processing units of the unorganized sectors.
To strengthen cooperatives, a provision of Rs 300 crore has been made for the scheme of ‘interest grant’ to provide loans to farmers at concessional rates through cooperative institutions.
A provision of Rs 150 crore has been proposed for the advance storage of chemical fertilizers.
A provision of Rs 15 crore has been proposed for Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Khadi Marketing Development Assistance Scheme.
In his post-Budget press interaction, Yogi said the state government was focusing on the education of youth, employment, empowerment of women and farmers, law and order as well as all-round growth of the state.
The UP Budget has proposed free irrigation support through government tube-wells and minor canals as well as Rs 1,000 crore grant under the Mukhya Mantri Laghu Sinchai Yojana.
Besides, the state has proposed accidental insurance of Rs 650 crore under Mukhya Mantri Krishak Durghatana Kalyan Yojana.
Meanwhile, the UP Budget has estimated total receipts of nearly Rs 590,000 crore, including revenue receipts of Rs 499,000 crore and capital receipts of Rs 91,739 crore.
The fiscal deficit is projected at more than Rs 81,000 crore – which is 3.96 per cent of the UP’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).