Cong: No focus on youth, farmers & backward areas | Lucknow News
The Congress on Wednesday criticised the Yogi Adityanath govt over the state budget, alleging underutilisation of funds and a lack of focus on farmers, youth and backward regions.UP Congress Committee president Ajay Rai claimed the govt made “budget surrender” an annual practice, alleging that nearly 30% of allocated funds are returned every April. He said even 9 months into the current fiscal year, several departments failed to spend 40% of their allocations. Rai alleged that MGNREGA was weakened, claiming that 6.21 crore fewer person-days were generated compared to the previous year. He also said 60 district hospitals were designated as medical colleges without adequate basic facilities. Rai questioned the feasibility of setting up one lakh micro-enterprises with an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore and alleged irregularities in Namami Gange projects. He said 37 backward districts in Purvanchal and Bundelkhand were not given any special package. Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona termed the budget a “framework of numbers” and said it lacked direction. She pointed out that less than 5% of the outlay — around Rs 43,000 crore — was earmarked for new schemes. Mishra alleged that farmers were ignored while flagging the absence of a special package despite inflation and fertilizer shortages. She also said the budget does not provide a clear job creation policy or minimum remuneration for outsourced workers and raised concerns over the rising fiscal deficit and accountability.
