Yogi: Budget will give thrust to ‘self-reliant’ Uttar Pradesh
With plan for inclusive development of all sections of society, the budget represents the sentiments of the 24 crore people of the state, says CM
LUCKNOW: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said Budget 2021-22 will become a medium for new hope, new energy and give wings to new prospects of development for people of Uttar Pradesh, despite the Covid pandemic.
The budget will give thrust to ‘self-reliant Uttar Pradesh’ with the speeding up of efforts for holistic and inclusive development of all sections of society. It represents the sentiments of the 24 crore people of the state, he said.
Addressing a press conference after finance minister Suresh Khanna presented the budget in the assembly, Yogi said it is a true representation of the ‘sabka saath--sabka vikas-sabka vishwash’ model of the state government.
UP became first state in the country to present a paperless budget, he said.
He said the budget reaffirms the resolve of the state government to provide tap water and electricity to each household, connect each village with road, make villages digital and give employment to the people.
Along with making arrangement for employment, uplift of all sections of society, plan for good future of the deprived and marginalized communities, the budget is embedded with a strategy for transformation of Uttar Pradesh, he said.
The 5.5 lakh crore budget for 2021-22 is 7.3% more than the budget for 2020-21. The focus of the 2017-18 budget was on farmers, the 2018-19 budget focus was on industrial development, the 2019-20 budget was focused on women empowerment, while the 2020-21 budget was on the infrastructure development. The focus of the 2021-22 budget is on all-round, all-inclusive development and empowerment of all sections of society,
Yogi said.
Lauding the state government efforts in fight against Covid, Yogi said financial discipline was maintained while the state worked for the welfare of all sections of society. The daily life of people was affected and the economy had to bear the wrath of the pandemic. The state government had to face problem in achieving revenue collection target. Yet the state government managed to keep the FRBM limit to 4.1%, whereas the central and RBI had directed the states to keep the limit at 4.5%, he said.
The budget will pave the way for ease of living and self-reliance of the state. The government has included family members of farmers and share croppers in the farmers’ accident insurance scheme. Social security has been provided for labourers working in the unorganized sector, he said.
The government launched the ‘CM Saksham Suposhan’ programme for anaemic children. Students enrolled in Chief Minister Abhyudaya Yojana will get tablet for studies. New schemes have been launched for empowerment of the women. The government has planned to open Sainik Schools in each district. Medical Colleges will be opened in 16 districts under PPP model. Lodging and fooding facilities will be provided in the Sanskrit schools, Yogi said.
Yogi said gurukul system, set up in Varanasi, will be promoted. The government has allocated fund for running cowshed at nayay panchayat level in each district. An insurance scheme has been launched for traders, he said.
An institute of virolgy at par with NIV Pune will be established in Lucknow in coordination with KGMU, CDRI and AKTU. The government has also allocated funds for projects launched under Jal Jeevan Mission, he said.
Uttar Pradesh ranks second in the country in ease of doing business. To check crime, the state government is establishing forensic institutes in Lucknow and laboratories in other districts, he said.
Under the infrastructure development plan, expressways -- Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Gorakhpur and Ballia link expressways -- are being constructed. Fund has been allocated for acquisition of land for the Ganga Expressway from Meerut to Prayagraj. A scheme for revival of closed MSME factories has also been launched, he said.
The state government has given a push to air connectivity plan by increasing the pace of construction of international airports at Ayodhya, Jewar and Kushinagar. Ayodhya has now developed into a favourite tourist and pilgrimage centre, Yogi said.
He said several schemes have been launched for empowerment of schedule castes and schedule tribe communities. A tribal museum will also be set up in Lucknow, he said.