UP budget: Focus on infrastructure, education, health, says Akhilesh Yadav

LUCKNOW: Development of infrastructure, education and health was given the highest priority in the Uttar Pradesh budget for 2015-16 to take the state on the path of prosperity, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said today.

Describing the budget as infrastructure and village oriented, Yadav told reporters that the exercise was aimed at inclusive development.

"The SP government is making efforts to ensure development of all sections of the society in UP, which is the largest state in terms of population," he said.

Claiming that SP has fulfilled all the promises made in its election manifesto, he said infrastructure development was accorded top priority in the budget.

"I can claim that during SP regime, the state is on the path of prosperity. We have increased the budget for infrastructure development. For the first time expressway is being constructed from the state coffers. We are linking villages with roads under Janeshwar Mishra scheme," he said.

He said the government has set a target to provide power supply for 16 hours in rural areas and 22 hours in urban areas by toning up electricity production, transmission and distribution.

"We have decided to observe 'Kisan Varsh' and we will work for farmers and villages. Almost 75 per cent of the budget is dedicated to farmers and villages," he said.