Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the first general budget of the Central government of Amrit Kaal was a public welfare budget which would empower and enable the people of villages, the poor, farmers, tribals, Dalits, backwards, exploited, deprived, disabled, economically weak and the middle class people.
He said the state's share in the central taxes for 2022-23 was proposed to be increased from Rs 1.46 lakh crore to Rs 1.83 lakh crore in 2023-24, which would prove useful in building the Uttar Pradesh of the New India.
“This budget is dedicated to the overall development of the country, including rural development, agricultural development, labour welfare, infrastructure development, digital infrastructure, North East and hilly areas. The dreams of the youth will come true through this budget,” the chief minister said during his interaction with the Press here on Thursday.
The chief minister said that there were seven priorities of this budget, which have been called Saptarishi. These priorities are: (1) inclusive growth, (2) reaching the last person, (3) infrastructure and investment, (4) unleashing potential, (5) green development, (6) youth power and (7) financial sector. .
“This first budget of India's Amrit Kaal will guide the country like Saptarishi and pave the way to fulfill the goals of aspirational India,” Yogi said and added that this budget was not just a development agenda for the year 2023-24, but a blueprint for the country to lay the foundation of a developed economy for the next 25 to 50 years.
“Providing greater opportunities for citizens, providing a strong impetus to growth and job creation and strengthening macro-economic stability is the agenda of the general budget 2023-24. In this all-inclusive and all-welfare Central budget, full care has been taken of all sections in line with the Prime Minister's resolution of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas',” he said.
The chief minister said by extending the supply of free food grains to the poor for one year under the Antyodaya Yojana would provide great relief to 80 crore people of the country, including 15 crore needy people of Uttar Pradesh.
“In this year's Union Budget, there is a proposal to set up 157 new nursing colleges along with the existing 157 medical colleges established since 2014. This provision will prove helpful in realising the concept of 'one district, one medical college, one nursing college' and in strengthening the health infrastructure in the state,” he said.
The chief minister further said India was consistently doing well on the front of growing coarse cereals. “India is the largest producer and second largest exporter of 'Shri Anna' (jowar, ragi, bajra, kuttu, ramdana, kangni, kutki, kodo, cheena and sama). We are determined to make India the global hub of Shri Anna. In order to promote the cultivation, processing and consumption of millets (jowar, bajra, kodo, sawan, ragi/madua etc.), the state government has decided to run the Uttar Pradesh Millets Revival Programme,” he said.
With the Central government's proposal to increase the agricultural loan target to Rs 20 lakh crore with focus on animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries, the agricultural ecosystem of the state will be strengthened.
“For the next three years, one crore farmers will be helped in natural farming. Natural farming has been encouraged by the state government since before,” he said and added that to give priority to startups related to agriculture and for this, Krishivardhak Fund has been set up for young entrepreneurs,” he said.
The chief minister said this would increase diversification in the agriculture sector of Uttar Pradesh and create new opportunities for innovation and self-reliance for the talented youth of rural areas. He said the new sub-scheme of PM Matsya Sampada Yojana with a fund of Rs 6,000 crore would further empower fishermen, fish vendors and micro and small entrepreneurs of this sector.
“Under the proposal of the Central government to issue Mahila Samman Vikas Patra, women will now get 7.5 per cent interest annually on savings of Rs 2 lakh. This will give impetus to the Mission Shakti run by our government,” he added.
“This budget is in line with the prime minister's vision on green development. The country's economic growth rate is estimated to be 7 per cent in the current financial year. This growth rate is the highest among all the major economies of the world. Under the successful leadership and guidance of the prime minister, the Indian economy is on the right track and is marching towards a bright future,” the chief minister said.
