The Yogi government has made a provision of Rs 36,000 crore for waiver of farmer’s loans; but ti would be a major challenge to ensure that all farmers receive the benefit. Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal had announced that all loans up to Rs one lakh taken till March 2016 and not paid till March 31, 2017 would be waived.

The misplaced priorities of the Yogi government were exposed when the budget effected a huge cut in the allocations for education. It was, however, restored after much criticism from opposition parties.

With the naming of seven schemes after RSS and BJP icons, the Yogi budget has the stamp of Hindutva, which is believed to be in view of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The Yogi government has allocated Rs 1,240 crore for the launch of ‘Swadesh Darshan Yojna focussing on the Ramayana (Ayodhya), Lord Shiva and Buddhist circuits (Varanasi) and Lord Krishna (Mathura) circuits. Budget allocations have also been made for setting up the Gita Shodh Sansthan and Krishna Museum at Mathura. Budget allocations to the tune of Rs 800 crore for Prasad Yojna for the development of infrastructure in Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura.

PM Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi is also being given special attention with the proposal for setting up a cultural centre with the allocation of Rs 200 crore. As promised by Yogi Adityanath during his recent trip to Ayodhya, funds have allocated to make arrangements for evening aarti on the banks of river Saryu.

The maiden budget of Yogi Adityanath has disappointed the opposition as well prominent economists of the city, who feel that budget should have given a clearer direction. Prominent economist Arvind Mohan said since the Yogi Adityanath government was more keen on the farmers loan waiver, there was no scope for development in the budget.

Former director of Giri Institute of Development Studies Dr AK Singh said that since capital expenditure has been lowered, the government would not be able to achieve the growth rate target of 10 per cent, which is higher than that of the Central government. He pointed out that nothing much has been said about the improvement of power situation in the state, which is expected to suffer further deterioration. There was no scope for development, he added.

Criticizing the budget for its lack of direction, the opposition parties attacked the Yogi government for betraying the aspirations of the common man, poor, labour class, unemployed and farmers.

Former chief minister and BSP leader Mayawati said that the farmers loan waiver was a drop in the ocean as it should have been without any term and conditions. She said there was no indication in the budget as to how the state would be benefitted from the central government in terms of grants, as promised during the poll campaign.

Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Choudhry, who organized an impressive demonstration outside the Vidhan Sabha on the opening day of budget session, said that the budget betrayed the people of the state and there was no provision for payment of dues to cane farmers.

Congress spokesman Satyadeo Tripathi said that there was no provision for employment generation in the budget, which failed to fulfill the promises the BJP made during the polls.

Samajwajdi Party was very critical of the boost to saffronisation in the name of cultural projects in Varanasi, Ayodhya and Mathura. He was also very critical of the budget for not taking major steps for creating better infrastructure, health and employment.

Lack of proper budget allocation for the power sector was criticized by Awadesh Kumar Verma, president of UP Power Consumers Parishad, who said that against the requirement of Rs 68,674 crore to ensure 24-hour power supply in the state by October 2018, the government has made the provision of only Rs 19,347 crore.

Verma said that in order to provide power at cheaper rates, the government should announce advance subsidy and it should have taken steps to end the electricity duty.

There was unanimity in all political parties that the Yogi government failed to provide adequate budget allocation for the development of Poorvanchal and Bundelkhand regions as promised by the BJP leaders during the poll campaign. (IPA Service)