Lucknow: The department of social welfare has been allotted an additional budget of Rs 1,655 crore for 2026-27, the lion’s share of Rs 1,500 crore being allocated for National Old Age Pension Scheme.The govt has also cleared Rs 407 crore for Dr BR Ambedkar Statue Development Scheme. The scheme, passed in April this year, had not been able to take off due to paucity of funds. Under this, the govt will now sanction Rs 10 lakh each for the construction of new memorials and statues or renovation of memorials and statues of social reformers across the state. It has set a target of developing 10 sites in each of the 403 assembly constituencies within this year, so that these statues can be inaugurated before the upcoming assembly polls.Another Rs 155 crore has been provided for General Category Post-Matric Fee Reimbursement and Scholarship Scheme, and Rs 2 crore for Chief Minister’s Meritorious Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Higher Education Assistance Scheme.
