Advocating all-round development of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that his government has made adequate budgetary provision in all sectors so that the state progresses in a consistent manner.
"We have prioritised infrastructure, education, social welfare, health, transport, power, drinking water, environment, forest and several other sectors. Name any sector and we have made budgetary allocation for that," Yadav said while addressing a programme 'UP Budget 2016-17 - A panel discussion' in lucknow on Friday.
The CM said that Rs 3.47 lakh crore budget of the state has equal distribution among the priority sectors. “Judge it yourself. We have allocated funds in all important sectors to ensure a holistic development in the state,” he said.
Yadav spoke in detail about different sectors and how he had chaired marathon meetings with officials to sort out the grey areas. He delved on the power, road, health, irrigation and education sectors, where his government has allocated adequte funds and ensured its rightful utilisation
“This is despite a cut in the Centre’s share by a whopping Rs 9000 crore. There is a misconception that the 14th Finance Commission has increased the state’s share. Officials in NITI Ayog say that UP’s share has increased from 32 per cent to 42 cent but the fact remains that monetarily, the state of UP has been a loser,” the CM said.
“Despite the loss, the UP government has waived off farmers' loans of Rs 1600 crores. We have distributed 17 lakh laptops among the students. Girls have been provided scholarships so that they could continue their studies. Medicines and pathological tests in the state-run hospitals are free. Instead of sitting idle and blaming the Centre for impeding our march to progress, we have been extending help to the people from our own resources,” Yadav asserted.
The CM said that the state government was constructing the longest expressway in the country and has emerged as the largest producer of milk. "We are the flag bearers for the Centre's 'Digital India' programme. The HCl has started its operations in state and has recently selected 150 students for imparting in-house training. Other big players in software industry are also coming to the state," said the Chief Minister.
Yadav, who was in his eloquent best, did not miss out on mentioning his government’s social initiative like Samajwadi Pension Scheme. “Cities and villages are progressing side by side. If lucknow is getting the Metro Rail, the rural areas have lohia Awas and Janeshwar Mishra Gram Vikas Yojana. The progress in both sectors has been equal," he said.
lauding the panel discussion on an important like this, the CM said, “ Such discussions will help both – the people and the government and help in emergence of new ideas. People will know what exactly our government has done and we will know what we should have done or where we have missed out,” he said.
Vice-Chairman of Planning Commission, Navin Chandra Bajpai, Principal Secretary (Finance) Rahul Bhatnagar, Additional Commissioner, Trade Tax, Vivek Kumar and Prof Arvind Mohan of lucknow University were part of the panel discussion.