UP govt launches Dr B R Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana

With a push on Dalit issues barely a week ahead of the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday launched a new ” Dr. B R Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana”.

UP backward welfare Minister Asim Arun stated that under the “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojana Scheme”, umbrellas, boundaries, and beautification work would be carried out around statues of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.

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The minister said 10 memorials will be developed in each Legislative Assembly, with a cost of ₹10 lakh per memorial. Thus, a total expenditure of ₹403 crore is expected for the development of 10 memorials in 403 Legislative Assembly constituencies.

The new scheme was approved by the state cabinet here on Tuesday.

According to officials, under this scheme, statues of great personalities, national social reformers, and cultural figures and important symbols of our nation’s historical, cultural, and social heritage will be covered. These statues represent public memory, social values, and respect for national and local contributors.

Currently, many statues are installed in accordance with prescribed legal standards, but lack walls and guardrails. Consequently, these statues are highly vulnerable to weather, encroachment, and neglect. The lack of adequate security and glazing also compromises the statues’ beauty and visual appeal.

Officials said keeping the above circumstances in mind, this plan has been prepared, the objective of which is to ensure the safety of such existing statues installed till December 31, 2025 and to provide them a protected and respectable form by sanctifying the area around them.

Besides, the physical security of the statues and the preservation of cultural and historical heritage will be ensured, and the statue sites will be beautified and enhanced. This will make the statue sites informative and useful to the public.

With the launch of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Statue Development Scheme, the site around the statues will be developed and boundary walls will be constructed, which will lead to employment generation.