Ever since Yogi Adityanath took over the reins of Uttar Pradesh in 2017, his government has significantly expanded Uttar Pradesh’s social security net to ensure that vulnerable and underprivileged sections of society receive timely financial assistance and welfare support. The government has strengthened pension schemes for destitute elderly persons, widows, and persons with disabilities, while ensuring transparent delivery of benefits through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).Special attention has been given to the welfare of women through schemes such as the Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, which supports the education and well-being of the girl child, and the MukhyamantriNirashrit Mahila Pension Yojana, which provides regular financial assistance to destitute widows. Senior citizens receive support under the Old Age Pension Scheme, while persons with disabilities are covered through dedicated disability pension and rehabilitation programmes.The government has also introduced targeted initiatives for economically weaker families, including financial assistance for the marriage of daughters from poor households, scholarships for students from disadvantaged communities, support for orphaned children, pensions for leprosy-cured persons, and welfare measures for transgender persons and other marginalised groups. In addition, free food grains under the Public Distribution System, affordable housing, health insurance, and livelihood programmes have strengthened the social safety net for millions of families.By combining social assistance with technology-enabled governance and direct benefit transfers, the government has sought to build a comprehensive welfare ecosystem that offers security, dignity, and opportunities for the most vulnerable sections of society.
Fivefold increase in pensions for destitute women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities
Giving a new direction to social security, the state government is currently providing regular monthly pension benefits to the elderly, 26.81 lakh destitute women, and 11.57 lakh persons with disabilities. While the pension arrangement in 2017 was minimal, the annual pension now stands at Rs 12,000.The state government has decided to increase the monthly pension amount for these destitute elderly individuals and persons with disabilities from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500, effective April 2026. Thus, the social security pension amount has seen a fivefold increase over the past nine years.During the last nine years, the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh has successfully lifted more than 6 crore people above the poverty line. Not only this, the pension for leprosy-affected individuals has been raised from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per month, benefiting 12,807 individuals.
Empowerment of persons with disabilities
Uttar Pradesh has significantly expanded support for persons with disabilities through enhanced welfare schemes, infrastructure, and inclusive policies. Under the Artificial Limbs and Assistive Devices scheme, a total of 3,84,543 persons benefited by 2024-25, with an additional 17,454 beneficiaries in 2025-26.The financial assistance under this scheme has been increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. The state has also issued over 16.38 lakh Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards, streamlining access to various entitlements. A new scheme has been launched to provide e-tricycles to school-going or education/training-pursuing female students with disabilities, promoting mobility and independence.Medical and educational interventions for children and youth with disabilities have received focused attention. As many as 1,679 cochlear implant surgeries have been performed, benefiting 845 hearing-impaired children. The state operates 21 special schools for persons with disabilities, with smart classes introduced in 16 of them. New special schools are planned in Ayodhya, Moradabad, Jhansi, Muzaffarnagar, Deoria, and Jaunpur.Key infrastructure projects include the Government Mamta Vidyalaya and a training centre for the intellectually challenged in Lucknow, as well as an Integrated Special Secondary School in Azamgarh. ‘Bachpan’ Day Care Centers are functional across all 18 divisions to provide pre-school readiness for hearing-impaired, intellectually disabled, and visually impaired children aged 3–7 years.Higher education and rehabilitation facilities have been strengthened with a strong focus on inclusion. At Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University in Lucknow, an Artificial Limb and Rehabilitation Center and a special stadium are operational. The university reserves 50% of seats in all courses for students with disabilities.The state has also established shelter-cum-training centers for the intellectually disabled in Bareilly, Meerut, Lucknow, and Gorakhpur, with new ones under construction in Chitrakoot and Banda. Plans are underway to set up 18 District Disability Rehabilitation Centers across the state.Employment, economic empowerment, and social recognition measures have been reinforced. A 4% reservation for persons with disabilities has been implemented in state government services and 5% in educational institutions. The government has launched the ‘U.P. DivyangjanSwavalambanevam Aajivika Setu Mission’ for skill development and livelihood support.An incentive scheme provides financial assistance to differently-abled couples: Rs 15,000 if the groom is differently-abled, Rs 20,000 if the bride is, and Rs 35,000 if both are. The number of categories for state-level awards for persons with disabilities has been increased from 3 to 12, with the award amount raised from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000.
Minority welfare
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK/MSDP) was iInitially launched in 21 districts during 2007-12, the program has been expanded to the entire state starting from 2022-23. Under the new guidelines, schemes are proposed for areas where the minority population constitutes 25% or more within a 15 km radius. Special emphasis is being placed on addressing the lack of education, healthcare, drinking water, employment opportunities, and other basic amenities within minority communities.The objective is to ensure the timely completion of approved projects and to ensure that benefits reach the local population directly. The state government makes comprehensive arrangements for Hajj pilgrims every year, including insurance, guidebooks, Hajj volunteers, and flight facilities from Lucknow and Delhi. Lakhs of people undertook the Hajj pilgrimage between 2023 and 2025, and 17,200 people have submitted final applications for Hajj 2026.
Redressal of public grievances
The state government has established an effective system for the speedy resolution of public grievances. At the “Janata Darshan” (Public Hearing) held at the Chief Minister’s official residence, grievances of complainants and aggrieved individuals arriving from every corner of the state are heard, and their effective resolution is ensured.“Sampoorna Samadhan Diwas” (Complete Resolution Day) is now organized in Tehsils on the first and third Saturdays of every month, while “Thana Diwas” (Police Station Day) is held on the second and fourth Saturdays to resolve received complaints.A system is in place for the prompt resolution of public grievances via the Chief Minister’s Helpline (1076).
Food and civil supplies
Uttar Pradesh has strengthened its food security architecture with comprehensive distribution programmes targeting the most vulnerable sections of society. Under these initiatives, the state provides free monthly rations of 35 kg of food grains, 1 kg of pulses or whole gram, 1 kg of iodized salt, and 1 kg of refined oil to approximately 15 crore poor beneficiaries. Antyodaya ration card holders receive an additional 1 kg of sugar every month.Ration cards have also been issued to destitute citizens and waste pickers, ensuring broader inclusion. Doorstep delivery of rations has been arranged in many areas, while fair-price shops are being upgraded into Common Service Centres (CSCs) to improve service delivery and accessibility.Transparency and technology have been integrated into the Public Distribution System (PDS). All fair-price shops, both urban and rural, now distribute food grains to beneficiaries through e-PoS machines using Aadhaar-based authentication and OTP verification. This digital mechanism has significantly reduced leakages and ensured that entitlements reach the intended recipients efficiently.Clean cooking fuel access has seen massive expansion. Over 1.86 crore families have received free LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. To further support households, the government distributes two free LPG cylinders annually to eligible beneficiaries on the occasions of Holi and Diwali, reducing their dependence on traditional fuels and improving health outcomes, especially for women and children.Long-term infrastructure development is bolstering food storage capabilities. Under the world’s largest grain storage scheme, new warehouses are being constructed across the state, which will add 2 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of grain storage capacity. This expansion aims to minimise wastage, ensure better buffer stocking, and support the sustained implementation of food security programmes. Collectively, these measures reflect a robust, technology-enabled, and inclusive approach to food and nutrition security, aiming to reach the last mile while modernising the entire supply chain.
Labour reforms
Uttar Pradesh has made significant strides in employment generation and worker welfare through targeted initiatives. The formation of the U.P. Employment Mission focuses on creating opportunities for the state’s youth both within India and abroad. Under Mission Rozgar, the government is actively promoting skill training, self-employment, apprenticeships, and job placement.This is supported by large-scale efforts, including over 13,148 job fairs that have facilitated the selection of more than 15.96 lakh candidates for private-sector jobs, along with 28,621 career counselling programmes that have guided over 32 lakh participants. Additionally, 59,602 skilled workers have registered on the Sevamitra portal.Registration of unorganized sector workers has seen remarkable progress. Uttar Pradesh ranks first in the country with over 8.42 crore workers enrolled on the national e-Shram portal. Over 9.52 crore accounts have been opened for workers under the Shramik Jan-Dhan initiative, while more than 7 crore unorganized sector workers have received ration cards and Family IDs. These efforts have strengthened the social security net for the vulnerable workforce.Pension and social security schemes are providing long-term stability. As of February 2026, 7,04,865 workers have been registered under the PM Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana, and 16,457 small traders and self-employed individuals under the Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maandhan Yojana. The state has also covered over 93 lakh beneficiaries under the Atal Pension Yojana. For technical skill enhancement, the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Shramik Pravidhik Shiksha Sahayata Yojana offers education assistance to workers.Targeted welfare measures address the needs of specific vulnerable groups. The government is advancing free housing for sanitation workers. Under the Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana, financial assistance of Rs 1,000 per month for boys and Rs 1,200 for girls is provided to destitute or seriously ill working children. Over 6 lakh beneficiaries have been covered under the Maternity, Child, and Girl Child Assistance Scheme. Construction of Labour Addas (designated worker gathering points) is underway to improve daily wage workers’ conditions.International employment and access to education have been expanded. Notably, over 5,978 construction workers from the state have secured opportunities in Israel. To support children from deprived sections, Atal Residential Schools have been established across all 18 divisions of the state, offering free, quality education with academic sessions already underway. Robust financial assistance mechanisms provide security against unforeseen hardships.In case of a registered worker’s death at the workplace, families receive Rs 15 lakh plus Rs 25,000 for funeral expenses. Accidental death compensation stands at Rs 5 lakh and natural death at Rs 2 lakh. Disability assistance ranges from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 24 lakh depending on severity, while unregistered unorganized workers are also eligible for support in cases of accidental death or total/partial disability (Rs 2 lakh for accidental death/total disability).Under the Registered Worker’s Daughter Marriage Assistance Scheme, families receive Rs 55,000 (or Rs 61,000 for inter-caste marriages) for up to two daughters. The Construction Worker Death and Disability Assistance Scheme has provided Rs 41,000 in relevant cases, and housing loan facilitation is being extended through banks and cooperatives.
