UP Budget 2026-27: Rs 43,565 crore earmarked for new schemes
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh government has made provisions for a host of new initiatives across sectors, with an outlay of over Rs 43,565 crore in the Budget for the financial year 2026-27 presented in the Assembly on Wednesday.
Presenting the Budget in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna detailed several proposed schemes, including the launch of the 'Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Employment and Industrial Zone' to promote micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), for which Rs 575 crore has been earmarked.
A new 'One District One Cuisine' (ODOC) scheme has been proposed with a provision of Rs 75 crore, while Rs 7.50 crore has been allocated for the modernisation of the blanket production centre at Khajni in Gorakhpur.
Under the Chief Minister Urban Expansion and New City Promotion Scheme, Rs 3,500 crore has been proposed. New housing schemes will be launched in Meerut after 35 years, in Agra after 33 years, in Lucknow after 22 years, and for the first time in Bulandshahr, he said in his over an hour-long budget speech.
Khanna said Rs 23 crore has been proposed for setting up a new dairy plant in Mathura. A provision of Rs 100 crore has been made for a new scheme to establish a state-of-the-art fish wholesale market, an integrated aqua park and a fish processing centre.
In the cooperative sector, Rs 25 crore has been proposed for construction of new warehouses under the world's largest foodgrain storage scheme, he said.
The budget also proposes Rs 580 crore for a new scheme to establish residential girls' schools in development blocks where Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas are not operational. A provision of around Rs 358 crore has been made to extend cashless medical facilities to teachers, non-teaching staff and contractual or honorarium-based employees of council schools.
Under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Rs 300 crore has been proposed from the state fund to develop all primary schools into smart schools. Additionally, Rs 300 crore has been earmarked for the maintenance of aided non-government schools found substandard in security audits.
The minister said Rs 89 crore has been proposed for providing cashless medical facilities to teachers working in aided secondary schools.
Among higher education initiatives, Rs 21 crore each has been allocated for the establishment of Swami Shukdevanand University in Shahjahanpur and Kashi Naresh University in Bhadohi.
A provision of Rs 14.50 crore has also been made for implementing a student mental health and welfare policy in higher educational institutions across the state, he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
