Chief Minister stated, "Under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, the government is continuously working to prioritize the poor, annadata farmers, women and youth in the implementation of welfare schemes. On the occasions of Holi and Deepawali, each beneficiary family is being provided one free cylinder refill. Under the Ujjwala Yojana, more than 10 crore people across the country have received gas connections, including 1.86 crore families in Uttar Pradesh". On this occasion, CM Yogi symbolically handed over subsidy cheques to 10 beneficiary women.
CM Yogi said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that governance schemes are linked on priority to the poor, annadata farmers, women and youth. The Prime Minister has stated that there are only four categories in the country: poor, farmers, women and youth. All sects, communities and faiths are included within these categories. Therefore, whenever the benefit of any scheme is provided, the guiding principle remains “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”
Although considerable time has passed since the end of the Covid pandemic, 80 crore people in the country are still receiving free ration. Of these, 15 crore beneficiaries are from Uttar Pradesh alone. This reflects the government’s sensitivity toward the poor.
Chief Minister added, "Under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, 50 crore people in the country are being provided health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually. All citizens above 70 years of age are also being given cashless medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh, which can be availed at any listed hospital in the country. Teachers and non teaching staff of basic, secondary and higher education institutions, along with Shiksha Mitras and instructors, will also receive annual cashless health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh".
He stated that those who work for society will find both society and the government standing with them.
Chief Minister said, earlier governments had a narrow outlook and were divided along caste lines, creating social divisions. Mafia elements ran parallel systems and there was an atmosphere of disorder. During that time, neither daughters nor traders were safe, and incidents of unrest before festivals often led to curfews. Today the situation has completely changed. There are neither curfews nor riots in the state. Law and order has strengthened and a positive environment for investment has been created.
Chief Minister informed, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya recently returned from Germany after participating in meetings related to investment prospects in Uttar Pradesh. Before 2017, when representatives from Uttar Pradesh traveled abroad, the state was not taken seriously. Today every major investor in the country and abroad wishes to invest in Uttar Pradesh. Investors are confident that the state government can ensure security and take prompt decisions to resolve issues.
He added, the positive transformation in the state and the investments coming from Germany, Japan, Singapore and other countries will not benefit any individual or family personally. The direct benefit will go to Uttar Pradesh and its youth. These investments are aimed at generating employment and accelerating economic activity. Such opportunities do not come automatically. They require continuous effort and coordinated action.
Chief Minister said, the government is working to establish a link through which qualified and trained youth of the state can secure employment opportunities abroad with government assurance. If a youth earns ₹20,000 per month in India and later earns between ₹2 lakh and ₹2.5 lakh abroad, it will mark a significant step toward a dignified life for him and his family. He assured that youth in Uttar Pradesh will secure jobs and employment opportunities.
He said that consistent work from morning to evening has enabled Uttar Pradesh to establish a new identity in investment and employment. The vision includes sensitivity toward women, freedom from illness, employment for youth, prosperity for annadata farmers, safety for daughters and a respectful environment for traders. The government is working with this objective to ensure that every section of society is connected to the mainstream of development.
Under the Ujjwala Yojana, the central government is providing 9 subsidized cylinders this year. A subsidy of ₹335 per refill is directly transferred to the beneficiary’s bank account. The connection is provided free of cost, and when the beneficiary purchases a filled cylinder, the subsidy amount is credited directly, ensuring transparency and preventing misuse.
The state government has decided that before major festivals such as Deepawali and Holi, each eligible family will be provided one filled gas cylinder free of cost. Programs are being organized across the state to ensure that every family can celebrate festivals with dignity and without inconvenience.
Chief Minister also said, "The double engine government is prioritizing women’s safety, dignity and self reliance. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has launched a vaccination program for cervical cancer prevention for girls up to 14 years of age. This program is being implemented across the state to protect girls from serious illness".
He said that if daughters are safe, families are safe. The vaccine, which earlier cost approximately ₹2,100, has now been reduced to ₹300 and efforts are underway to make it free. This reflects the government’s commitment to public welfare.
Chief Minister said that earlier governments focused on dividing society on caste lines and limited governance to their own families. The present government considers 25 crore people of Uttar Pradesh as its family and is continuously working toward security, dignity and self reliance.
Chief Minister informed, initiatives such as the Lakhpati Didi program and SHE Mart are being promoted to provide a strong economic foundation to women self help groups. Under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyami Utpad Vipanan Yojana, arrangements have been made to provide markets for products prepared by women self help groups. Emphasis has been placed on quality improvement and budget provisions have been made for effective marketing to ensure that rural products reach the market directly and enhance women’s incomes.
The Mahila Udyami Credit Card Yojana is another important step. Women aspiring to become entrepreneurs will receive collateral free and interest free loans up to a fixed limit through banks, along with margin money support to help them start small businesses. Milk Producer institutions are being established in Prayagraj and Lucknow, enabling lakhs of women to move toward self reliance through dairy cooperatives.
Construction of working women hostels is also underway under a central government scheme to provide safe accommodation for working women. Through SHE Mart, women self help groups are being directly linked to markets to ensure wider reach and fair prices.
Chief Minister said, existing schemes for women empowerment are being accelerated. Under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, Matru Vandana program and Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, assistance is provided from birth until graduation for daughters. Under the Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana, ₹1 lakh financial assistance is provided for a daughter’s marriage. The government now comes forward to support daughters, recognizing every village daughter as society’s daughter.
He noted that with improved security, women’s labour force participation has increased from around 13 percent earlier to 36 percent now. Women are working across government services, industries and various sectors, moving steadily toward self reliance.
Chief Minister also informed, the government has decided to progressively increase the honorarium of Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers, who serve at the grassroots level. Earlier, complaints were common due to the absence of e-POS machines at ration shops. Now all ration shops are equipped with e-POS machines. A plan has been initiated to develop ration shops as model shops with budgetary support. Shopkeepers are permitted to sell essential items except intoxicants, expanding their income sources. Their commission is also being increased.
He added that in villages, daughters are working as BC Sakhi, Vidyut Sakhi and in various other roles, creating employment opportunities locally. The government is prioritizing such initiatives to ensure every section of society progresses toward self reliance.
On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Mayor of Lucknow Sushma Kharkwal, Members of Legislative Council Avneesh Kumar Singh and Lalji Prasad Nirmal, MLA Dr Neeraj Bora, Jai Devi and others were present.
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