Lucknow: In a powerful address to the Legislative Council, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Leader of the House Keshav Prasad Maurya declared that the state has established unprecedented benchmarks of progress under the robust leadership of the double-engine government. Speaking on February 20, 2026, he emphasized that the strategic implementation of welfare schemes has propelled Uttar Pradesh to the top position in the country across several critical sectors, transforming the state into a model of governance. The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted that the state now leads the nation in the execution of the PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, PM Surya Ghar Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Awas Yojana, and the Atal Pension Yojana. He specifically noted that over 90 thousand crore rupees have been disbursed directly to farmers, while the distribution of 1.85 crore free gas connections under the Ujjwala Yojana has set a definitive national record for energy accessibility and rural health.
This developmental surge is mirrored by a major shift toward social security and financial dignity for the marginalized sections of society. The Deputy Chief Minister announced a historic increase in monthly pensions for the elderly and specially-abled, raising the amount from 300 rupees to 1500 rupees effective from April 1, 2026. This focus on human-centric welfare extends deep into the education sector, where honorariums for Shiksha Mitras and instructors have been significantly increased to bolster the economic stability of millions of families. Beyond direct aid, Maurya drew attention to the massive transformation in infrastructure, pointing out that the number of operational airports has surged from just four in 2017 to sixteen today, effectively shrinking distances and expanding economic horizons. Furthermore, the state has achieved the top national ranking in rural sanitation and the ‘Gharauni’ land documentation scheme, providing villagers with a newfound sense of legal and economic empowerment.
On the economic front, Maurya celebrated Uttar Pradesh’s dominance as the nation’s primary producer of sugarcane, food grains, milk, and potatoes, solidifying its role as the country’s food basket. He assured the farming community of continued support through a massive budget allocation of 3000 crore rupees dedicated to covering electricity bills for private tube wells, alongside ongoing direct benefit transfers for agricultural inputs. The government is equally prioritizing women’s empowerment with the ambitious ‘Lakhpati Diदी’ scheme, which aims to make one crore women economically self-reliant and independent entrepreneurs. Environmental protection has also reached a milestone with the successful planting of 37 crore saplings. Concluding his speech, Maurya attributed these multi-sectoral successes to a foundation of strong law and order and good governance modeled after the concept of ‘Ram Rajya.’ He extended his heartfelt gratitude to the House, the media, and administrative officials for their roles in this collective journey and offered early Holi greetings to citizens both at home and abroad.
