Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced upcoming welfare packages for farmers affected by extreme weather and for women seeking greater economic self-reliance, along with subsidised Annapurna canteens at mandis and labour hubs for construction workers.
The announcements were made at a state government event where free LPG cylinders were distributed to 1.98 crore beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana ahead of Diwali. The chief minister did not disclose the financial size, eligibility rules or launch dates for either the proposed farmer or women’s package, but said both would be unveiled soon.
The farmer package is being planned for nearly three crore cultivators who have suffered losses because of natural disasters and adverse climatic conditions, according to the chief minister. He cited excessive rainfall, drought, hailstorms, cyclonic activity and the effects of El Niño as risks facing the agricultural sector.
Adityanath said standing crops had been damaged twice in the preceding fortnight because of heavy rain and storms. While immediate relief was already being provided, he said the larger package would address the needs of affected farmers. The announcement did not specify the compensation mechanism, crop categories, assessment process or funding allocation.
The proposed women’s package will focus on economic self-reliance, the chief minister said. He said the state government wanted women to live with security and dignity, support their families and educate their children. No details were provided on whether the initiative would involve credit, skills, employment, enterprise support or other forms of assistance.
The government also plans to establish Annapurna Canteens at agricultural mandis, where farmers will be able to obtain subsidised meals. Annapurna Bhojanalayas are also proposed at labour hubs being developed for construction workers. The announcements place food access alongside market and labour infrastructure, although the government has not yet released details on the number, location, operating model or subsidy structure of the facilities.
The LPG distribution event was held under a state scheme that provides two free refills each year to Ujjwala beneficiaries. One refill is provided ahead of Diwali and the other before Holi. The scheme involves an additional annual expenditure of Rs 1,500 crore for the state government, according to the chief minister.
The announcements come a few months before notification for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, as noted in the report. During the event, Adityanath also highlighted the Union government’s 2016 launch of the Ujjwala scheme and said access to clean cooking fuel was intended to reduce the hardships faced by women.
The chief minister linked the proposed women’s measures to the broader goal of making Uttar Pradesh self-reliant. He also described the distribution of government benefits without discrimination as an example of good governance and referred to a World Bank report on poverty reduction in India. The state government has yet to publish the detailed framework, beneficiaries’ criteria and implementation schedule for the two new packages.
