LUCKNOW, Feb. 12 -- 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 in 2025-26, the finance minister highlighted. Khanna mentioned that in 2025-26, 39,880 BC Sakhis in 58,000 gram panchayats conducted transactions worth over Rs.39,000 crore, earning about Rs 107 crore in commissions. "Women sugarcane farmers are being given priority in the issuaunce of slips, benefiting approximately 60,000 women sugarcane farmers across the state. Under 'Mission Shakti', the integration of security, health and employment services provides new momentum to women's self-reliance and social participation. Under the 'Safe City Project', the deployment of women police beats, an extensive CCTV network and 'Anti-Romeo Squads' has ensured safety at public places and workplaces. To give concrete shape to the 'Safe City Concept' and to ensure safety of working women as well as provide suitable accommodation in new cities, working women hostels are being constructed in municipal corporations across the state," said the minister. Keeping in mind the safety and convenience of working women, Rs.100 crore was allocated for the construction of hostels and Rs.35 crore proposed under the Chief Minister Shramjeevi Mahila Hostel Construction Scheme, said Khanna. To secure the future of girls, Rs 400 crore was allocated under the Chief Minister Kanya Sumangala Scheme. For the protection of needy children, Rs.252 crore was allocated under the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Bal Seva Yojana and Rs.80 crore earmarked for building construction under the Chief Minister Bal Ashray Yojana. Additionally, through the Supplementary Nutrition Programme, approximately 15.7 million (1 crore 57 lakh) beneficiaries in the state were receiving nutritional support....