CM highlights transformation since 2017, from job seekers to job creators; says youth will lead the world by 2047LUCKNOW: Through an eight-frame reel aimed at connecting with the youth, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the key changes Uttar Pradesh has undergone since 2017 under the BJP government, asserting that the state’s youth had moved from being job seekers to becoming job creators.Addressing the Youth Icons Summit & Awards, UP Chapter, organised by The Times of India, the CM said that by 2047, the year by which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned a ‘Viksit Bharat’, the country’s youth would be in a position to lead the world. He stressed the need to equip them with the right skills, training and opportunities to prepare for that responsibility.The eight frames of his presentation covered the state’s transformation in law and order, employment, sports, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, the economy and heritage, besides outlining the role of young people in shaping the country’s future.
Frame 1 | UP’s transformation
Recalling the situation in Uttar Pradesh before 2017, Yogi said the state had faced an identity crisis, security concerns and a lack of infrastructure, which had discouraged investment.“Recall how Uttar Pradesh was 10 years ago. When people from UP went out of the state, they were forced to hide their identity. When they returned, they faced an issue of security. Girls couldn’t go to school. Nobody wanted to invest here. There was no infrastructure of which people could be proud,” he said.He said the state had once been associated with poor roads and a lack of safety after sunset, adding that several families in western UP had sent their daughters outside the state because of security concerns.The CM asserted that the government had followed a zero-tolerance policy towards crime since 2017. He said the state had moved away from the era of “one district-one mafia” to “one district-one product”.He also claimed that improved law and order had enabled women to work late and contributed to their greater participation in the workforce.
Frame 2 | Fair employment opportunities
Highlighting recruitment reforms, Yogi recalled that soon after taking over as CM in 2017, he was handed a file proposing the cancellation of appointments made in a particular year. On examining the matter, he said, he found that appointment letters had been issued even to people who had not applied for the posts.“Before 2017, letters were not given on merit but on proximity to the Saifai syndicate or through dealings. In the past 9.5 years, we have given 9.5 lakh jobs without recommendation. One lakh more jobs would be given within the next six months,” he said.The CM maintained that recruitment under the present government had focused on merit and transparency, providing young people with fairer access to government jobs.
Frame 3 | Focus on sports
Yogi said the government had introduced a policy to provide direct entry into government service to sportspersons who win medals, arguing that employment opportunities had encouraged athletes to perform better.“Our government introduced a policy where medal-winning sportspersons were given direct entry to government posts. Sportspersons have shown faith in this government, which is why they are able to give their best,” he said.Citing the example of athlete Prachi Chaudhary, the CM said the prospect of being appointed as a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in Uttar Pradesh after winning a medal had motivated her to succeed.He added that 1,400 sportspersons had been given appointment letters for government jobs so far.
Frame 4 | Making youth job creators
Emphasising entrepreneurship, Yogi said Uttar Pradesh had moved from a situation in which young people primarily sought jobs to one in which they were increasingly creating employment opportunities for others.He said the state had only 120 start-ups before 2017, a number that had since risen to 25,000. The government had also created a Rs 1,000-crore fund to support start-ups and was developing centres of excellence to provide young entrepreneurs with exposure and training.Citing examples, he said a centre of excellence for drone technology had been established in Kanpur, while one for robotics was being developed in Noida.He also highlighted the CM Yuva Udyami Guarantee Scheme, under which one lakh young people are to receive guarantee-free and interest-free loans every year to help them set up businesses.
Frame 5 | Economy, investment and infrastructure
Highlighting infrastructure development, Yogi said Uttar Pradesh had witnessed a major expansion in connectivity since 2017. He cited the state’s expressway network, the expansion of its aviation infrastructure and the development of new transport corridors as indicators of this change.He said Uttar Pradesh, which earlier had international airports in Lucknow and Varanasi, now had five international airports and 17 domestic airports. Referring to air connectivity in Gorakhpur, he said 14 flights were operating daily and running full.“The PM had said ‘hawai chappal pehenne wala bhi hawai yatra karega’ and we are fulfilling that,” he said.The CM also referred to the development of inland waterways and freight corridors, attributing the expansion of infrastructure to improved security and investment-friendly policies.He said Uttar Pradesh had shed its BIMARU tag and emerged as one of the country’s leading state economies. Claiming that the state’s economy, per capita income, budget and women’s workforce had grown threefold since 2017, he said young people no longer needed to migrate elsewhere in search of jobs and opportunities.
Frame 6 | UP’s heritage and tourism
Describing heritage as the soul of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi said the state had attracted more than 156 crore tourist visits in the previous year.He said destinations such as Kashi, Ayodhya, Vrindavan and Mathura were drawing visitors not only for religious reasons but also generating economic activity for local communities.According to the CM, tourism had benefited restaurants, cycle-rickshaw operators, small shopkeepers and other local businesses, helping heritage-led development create livelihood opportunities.He added that previous governments had not adequately promoted the state’s cultural and religious heritage, while the present government had placed greater emphasis on developing tourism.
Frame 7 | Preparing youth for 2047
Looking ahead to the vision of Viksit Bharat, Yogi said the generation that was young today would be around 40 years old in 2047 and would have a major role in leading the country.He praised The Times of India for recognising young achievers across different fields, saying such recognition would inspire lakhs of other youngsters to pursue excellence.Referring again to Prachi Chaudhary’s achievement, he said stories of perseverance and success could motivate young people across the state.The CM said the government could not allow the disappointments that had pushed earlier generations towards depression to return, stressing that the youth needed opportunities, confidence and a supportive environment to fulfil their potential.
Frame 8 | Working for youth
In his concluding message, Yogi urged young people to recognise their role in strengthening democracy and participate actively in the electoral process.“The youth has the power of democracy. Voting is not just your right but also your duty,” he said, urging eligible young people to enrol as voters.Praising India’s democratic system, he said it enabled people to express their views publicly and exercise freedom of speech, while adding that such freedom had to be exercised within ‘maryada’.The CM said Uttar Pradesh was looking towards a bright future and emphasised that preparing young people with the right skills, opportunities and confidence would be essential to achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047.
