UP budget: Ally hails; farmers' forum rails

BJP ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) described today's Uttar Pradesh budget as "historic", while a forum of farmers alleged that there was no concrete plan for farmers' welfare.
"This is a historic budget. The budget has laid special emphasis on education, health, power, infrastructure and industrial development. The budget also clearly states the UP government's intention of making UP a prosperous state. This is one of the biggest budgets presented so far," Arvind Sharma, Apna Dal (S) spokesperson, said in a statement issued here today.
However, Rashtriya Kisan Manch president Shekhar Dixit, ruing lack of welfare schemes for farmers in the budget, asked: "When will the UP government increase the farmers' income? The farmers in the state are feeling harassed...they are committing suicide. But, despite this, there is no concrete plan in the budget for the welfare of the farmers."

Dixit expressed apprehension that if the problems of the farmers were not resolved, then their children might not take up farming as an occupation, which may result in food crisis.