Uttar Pradesh Budget 2024 Prioritizes Public Safety with Dramatic Crime Reduction
In a significant budget presentation, Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Khanna emphasized that strengthening public safety and enhancing policing capacity remain the state government's foremost priorities. Presenting the comprehensive state budget in Lucknow, Minister Khanna detailed how sustained administrative reforms, modernization of police infrastructure, improved intelligence gathering mechanisms, and stricter enforcement strategies have collectively contributed to a remarkable improvement in the overall crime scenario since 2016.
Substantial Decline in Heinous Crimes Documented
According to official figures cited by the minister during his budget address, the state has recorded a substantial and consistent decline across multiple categories of serious crimes over the past decade. The comparative data reveals impressive reductions when measured against 2016 baseline statistics:
- Dacoity incidents dropped by 89%, representing one of the most dramatic improvements in organized crime statistics
- Robbery cases decreased by 85%, indicating improved street-level security and prevention measures
- Murder incidents declined by 47%, reflecting enhanced homicide investigation capabilities
- Rioting cases fell by 70%, demonstrating better crowd control and preventive policing
- Kidnapping for ransom decreased by 62%, showing successful disruption of abduction networks
Authorities have attributed this comprehensive crime reduction to multiple coordinated initiatives including intensified policing drives across districts, strategic expansion of surveillance networks, implementation of faster emergency response systems, systematic crackdowns on organized crime syndicates, and significantly improved inter-district coordination mechanisms.
Focused Action on Crimes Against Women Shows Results
Minister Khanna specifically highlighted the government's focused action against crimes targeting women, with data indicating substantial progress across multiple categories compared to 2016 levels:
- Cases involving the murder of women decreased by 48%
- Dowry death incidents declined by 19%
- Rape cases dropped by 67%
- Molestation incidents fell by 34%
The government has credited this improvement to specialized women's safety initiatives, establishment of dedicated help desks in police stations, implementation of Mission Shakti campaigns, enhanced patrolling in vulnerable areas, and stricter monitoring of repeat offenders through improved tracking systems.
Consistent Decline in Atrocities Against SC/ST Communities
The budget presentation also revealed a consistent downward trend in cases involving atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Since 2016, the state has documented significant reductions:
- Murder cases under this category declined by 43%
- Arson incidents dropped dramatically by 94%
- Rape cases decreased by 32%
- Grievous assault cases fell by 10%
Officials explained that strengthened enforcement of the SC/ST Act, quicker registration of First Information Reports (FIRs), and closer supervision of sensitive districts have played a crucial role in achieving these results. The budget allocation reflects continued commitment to these enforcement mechanisms with specific provisions for training programs, community outreach initiatives, and technological upgrades to ensure sustained progress in protecting vulnerable communities.
The comprehensive budget presentation underscores Uttar Pradesh's multi-pronged approach to public safety, combining infrastructure modernization with strategic enforcement to create measurable improvements in law and order across the state.
