India, Feb. 12 -- LUCKNOW The UP government made a provision of Rs.18,620 crore for women and child development-related schemes, marking an 11% increase over the previous year's allocation. The government also decided to provide loans to women at affordable interest rates while housing facilities will soon be provided to sanitation and construction workers.

During his budget speech, finance minister Suresh Khanna said the Yogi Adityanath government had prioritised elevation of women's economic, social and financial participation to new heights.

An allocation of Rs.3,500 crore was proposed under the Nirashrit Mahila Pension Yojana (Destitute Women Pension Scheme) with beneficiaries rising from 17.32 lakh in 2016-17 to 38.58 lakh so far i...