With the budgetary focus on women and youth, several provisions were made for women-centric schemes. Finance Minister Suresh Khanna proposed Rs 400 crore for Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, which has benefitted 26.81 lakh girls till January 2026.Besides, the govt has proposed Rs 400 crore for the Rani Lakshmi Bai Scooty Yojana to provide scooters to meritorious girl students.Overall, the budget proposed ₹18,620 crore for Women and Child Development schemes, which is 11% higher compared to the year 2025-2026.The allocations include ₹3,500 crore for the Destitute Women Pension Scheme. Under this scheme, the number of beneficiaries was 17.32 lakh in 2016-2017, which has increased to 38.58 till 2025-2026.Besides, a provision of ₹100 crore was proposed for the construction of hostels for working women and ₹35 crore was proposed under the ‘Mukhyamantri Shramjeevi Mahila Hostel Construction Scheme’.Due to the state govt’s efforts for women empowerment in 58,000 gram panchayats in 2025-26, 39,880 BC Sakhis conducted financial transactions worth over Rs 39,000 crore, earning around Rs 107 crore in commissions, a spokesperson said.“Five milk producer companies were proposed under the Mahila Samarthya Yojana, of which units in Gorakhpur, Bareilly and Rae Bareli have begun procurement and marketing, while those in Prayagraj and Lucknow are proposed,” he added.Around 60,000 women sugarcane farmers are being given priority in the issuance of cane slips, it added.
