UP Budget 2024: Yogi's Budget Attempts to Cater to All Sections

Lucknow: The budget presented by the Yogi government on Monday aims to address all sections. Finance Minister Suresh Khanna announced several significant measures, indicating the government's efforts to shape political dynamics in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. A notable step has been taken towards satisfying rural voters through major announcements for farmers.

The government has also focused on women voters, and announcements for youth and the impoverished suggest that the Yogi government has made a concerted effort to please these segments. Political analysts believe that the budget is strategically designed to strengthen the government's religious agenda and make substantial announcements for various sections of the state's population to influence political dynamics.

Eyes on Mission 2024, Striving to Satisfy Everyone

In the third budget of Yogi Adityanath's second term, special attention has been given to farmers, women, and the poor. All eyes are on Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as the state holds 80 seats. BJP claims a big victory on all these seats, considering the recent triumphs in various states during assembly elections. In light of this, the government has made efforts to satisfy every section of the population.

While presenting the budget, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna stated that the policies of the Yogi government are dedicated to the upliftment of youth, women, farmers, and the poor. He emphasized that UP is no longer a sick state, dismissing this narrative entirely.

Luring Announcements for Farmers

After the discontent among farmers due to the three agricultural laws presented by the Modi government, the Yogi government has taken a significant step to appease them. Under the Maandhan Yojana, farmers aged 60 and above will receive a monthly pension of three thousand rupees. This move is seen as a politically impactful step for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Analysts suggest that through this, the Yogi government has made a substantial effort to satisfy rural voters. The removal of restrictions on providing new private borewell connections in dark zones has completely benefited one lakh farmers.

Focus on Women Voters

The recent victories of BJP in various states during assembly elections highlighted the significant role of women voters. In the budget, special attention has been given to women. Under the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, the pension amount for eligible beneficiaries has been increased from 500 to 1000 rupees per month. This move is expected to benefit over 3.1 million destitute women until the third quarter of 2023-2024.

Another initiative, the Women Farmer Empowerment Project, aims to form 200 producer groups in the financial year 2024-2025, providing technical support. These steps indicate the government's focus on empowering women in various sectors.

Strengthening the Religious Agenda

The state's most extensive budget to date focuses heavily on air connectivity, development of the Dharmarth Highway, flyover construction, and expressway projects. The emphasis on building flyovers aims to alleviate traffic congestion in major cities. Provision of 1100 crore rupees has been proposed for land acquisition for expanding airports and strengthening connectivity.

The extension of the airport in Ayodhya is also planned, with an allocation of 150 crore rupees. The government has prioritized the development of the Dharmarth Highway along with Ayodhya, Mathura, and Kashi. An allocation of 1750 crore rupees has been made for the development of the Dharmarth Highway. The government has given significant importance to widening state highways, allocating 2881 crore rupees for this purpose.

Appealing to Urban Voters

Traffic congestion in major cities of the state has become a severe issue, causing frustration among urban residents. To address this, the government has taken a significant step by building flyovers in various cities, allocating a substantial amount of 1000 crore rupees for this purpose.

Enhancing Road Connectivity

The Ganga Expressway project has been allocated 2057 crore 76 lakh rupees in the budget. This expressway aims to reduce the distance between Meerut and Prayagraj. Additionally, plans to connect Agra and Lucknow with the Purvanchal Expressway are in progress. A considerable amount of 500 crore rupees has been allocated in the budget for the new link expressway.

Potential Impact in Lok Sabha Elections

The Finance Minister of the state mentioned that 395 crore rupees will be spent on the Kanpur Metro project, 346 crore rupees on the Agra Metro, and 100 crore rupees will be earmarked for comprehensive development in Ayodhya. The government has also set aside 914 crore rupees for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Rapid Rail Corridor. The development of the AeroCity in Lucknow, following Delhi's model, is also planned. Along with this, the government is preparing to launch new schemes worth 24,000 crore rupees in the state.

Political analysts believe that the budget announcements made by the Yogi government make it clear that the government has made a special effort not only to strengthen its religious agenda but also to focus on satisfying all segments of society. Through these measures, the Yogi government aims to enhance the electoral prospects of the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections."