Election year: Five-fold increase in UP information department Budget

Against the budget of Rs 77.45 cr during 2014-15, the revised estimates for 2015-16 stand at Rs 350 cr

Even as the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) government in Uttar Pradesh slowly slips into election mode in run up to the 2017 polls, the state information department budget has inflated by almost five times.

Against the budget of Rs 77.45 crore during 2014-15, the revised estimates for 2015-16 stand at Rs 350 crore, while the estimates for the current financial year (2016-17) also stand at Rs 354 crore; an almost five fold increase (See table).

The UP polls are due in early months of 2017 and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is leaving no stones unturned in publicising the 'good works' and development projects undertaken during his regime (2012-Present). He had taken over the high office on March 15, 2012.

Although, the total budget includes heads such as salaries, dearness allowances etc incurred by the state information department, the advertisements head accounts for a major chunk of the allocation.

For instance, during the 2015-16 and 2016-17, the advertisements head accounts for Rs 250 crore for each fiscal, thus comprising over 70% of the total department budget for the respective year.

Besides, the various government departments have their separate budgets for advertisements and publicity, which is in addition to the state information budget.

On several occasions, Yadav has admitted that while his government was at the forefront of undertaken the development agenda vis-à-vis other states, the regime had been rather laggard in publicising amongst the masses the positive works done by it. This fact has been further reiterated by his father and ruling SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav as well in his public speeches.

Of late, the government has been quite liberal in advertising through the print and electronic mediums, including TV, radio etc.
 
The Akhilesh dispensation has been putting up large hoardings and billboards not just in UP, but distant places such as Mumbai and Delhi as well with a view to cultivating a positive image of the government and building 'Brand UP'.

The government has been making efforts to boosting inward investment and attracting the UP origin Non Resident Indians (NRI) community to invest in the state. For the purpose, the state had instituted an NRI department and held 'Pravasi Diwas' to engage with the community.

UP information department budget
	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16
					(Revised estimates)	2016-17 (Estimates)
Budget	Rs 83.66 cr	Rs 57 cr	Rs 64.84 cr	Rs 77.45 cr	Rs 350 cr	Rs 354 cr
Source: UP Finance Department website / UP Budget documents