With an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Yogi Adityanath government on earmarked in its maiden budget Rs 1,240 crore for Ramayan, Buddhist and Krishna circuits in the pilgrim cities of Ayodhaya, Varanasi and Mathura.
The BJP government also allocated Rs 800 crore under the Prasad Yojana to develop infrastructural facilities in Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura.
In a bid to boost cultural heritage in the state, the budgetary allocation for these circuits has been made under the Swadesh Darshan Yojana.
In its 'Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra' (election manifesto), the BJP had promised to get a Ram temple built at Ayodhya under constitutional provisions if voted to power in Uttar Pradesh.
The budget also made provision for Krishna Sangrahalya to be set up in Mathura.
It also earmarked Rs 20 crore to construct Kailash Mansrovar Bhawan in Ghaziabad and Rs 500 crore for preparations of Ardha Kumbha Mela in Allahabad.
The government set aside Rs 25 crore for helicopter services to promote tourism in the state.
In addition, the government also laid out plans to organise monthly cultural programmes in various districts under Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Janm Shatabdi Samaroh.
For Backward Women
The Uttar Pradesh government has taken a slew of measures to support backward classes, poor students, and strengthen education system in its budget today.
The state government has allocated Rs 52.66 crore to construct hostel for poor students belonging to backward classes.
It has set aside Rs 11 crore to provide 'O' level computer training to unemployed students of backward classes.
The government allocated Rs 551.28 crore to reimburse fees of students belonging to backward classes.
The maiden budget of the Yogi Adityanath government shows a deficit of Rs 7,468.83 crore the current fiscal.
The total receipts have been estimated at Rs 3,77,190.88 crore, of which revenue receipts account for Rs 3,19,397.43 crore and capital receipts Rs 57,793.43 crore.
On the other hand, the total expenditure is estimated at Rs 3,84,659.71 crore. It includes Rs 3,07,118.63 crore by way of revenue expenditure and Rs 77,541.08 crore by way of capital expenditure.
The budget figures show a revenue surplus of Rs 12,278.80 crore and fiscal deficit of Rs 42,967.86 crore, which is 2.97 per cent of the gross state domestic product.
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