“Ek Jhalak” – a documentary report card highlighting 8 years of work in UP showcased

Lucknow : On the occasion of the Uttar Pradesh government completing 8 years in office, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled a comprehensive blueprint of the state’s development journey at a press conference held at Lok Bhavan on Monday. During the event, a documentary titled “Ek Jhalak” showcasing the achievements of the government over the past eight years was screened, and a special booklet released.

Addressing the media, CM Yogi said, “With the inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the collective efforts of 25 crore citizens, Uttar Pradesh is moving forward on the path of transforming from a ‘Shram Shakti Punj’ to an ‘Arth Shakti Punj’ of India. The state is the same, but its perception has been completely transformed over the last eight years.”

He further remarked that not just Uttar Pradesh, but the entire nation now acknowledges the state’s emerging identity in the areas of security, good governance, prosperity, and Sanatan culture. “Uttar Pradesh, which once carried the tag of a ‘BIMARU’ state, has today emerged as the growth engine of the Indian economy.”

The Chief Minister emphasized that the past eight years of service, security, and good governance have been achieved under the visionary leadership and inspirational guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He congratulated the 25 crore people of the state for being part of this transformative journey and highlighted the significant impact made by the double-engine government across all sectors.

CM Yogi also announced that a three-day ‘Vikas Utsav’ will be celebrated at all district headquarters on March 25, 26, and 27. During the event, Annadaata farmers, youth, women, artisans, and entrepreneurs will be honored, and the development milestones of 10 years of the Central government and 8 years of the State government will be showcased to the public.

The Chief Minister stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a clear vision to make India a $5 trillion economy, and Uttar Pradesh is playing a pivotal role in this mission. “UP is currently the second-largest economy in the country and is poised to become number one soon,” he said.

He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, his cabinet colleagues, and all constituent parties of the NDA for their continuous support. He credited the state’s journey over the past eight years to a collective spirit of teamwork, scale, skill, and speed.

Reflecting on the situation before 2017, CM Yogi said that Uttar Pradesh’s identity was in deep crisis. “Farmers were committing suicide, the youth were searching for purpose, daughters and businessmen felt unsafe, and riots and lawlessness had crippled the economy,” he recalled. At that time, UP was labelled a BIMARU state and seen as a hurdle to national development.

“But in eight years, the double engine government has transformed that perception. Today, Uttar Pradesh is leading progress across every sector, becoming a breakthrough force in the nation’s development,” he asserted.

Discussing the transformation in agriculture, the Chief Minister noted that Uttar Pradesh has always been an agriculture-rich state, with abundant fertile land and water resources. “However, before 2017, the condition of farmers was dire,” he said. One of the first major decisions of his government in 2017 was to waive loans of small and marginal farmers, worth Rs 36,000 crore. As a result, food grain production increased from 557 lakh metric tonnes in 2016-17 to 668 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24 — a 20% rise.

He further shared that over Rs 10 lakh crore has been transferred directly to beneficiaries through DBT. Long-pending irrigation projects such as Arjun Sahayak, Bansagar, and Saryu Canal were completed, bringing irrigation to an additional 23,000 hectares. Leveraging the expertise of Krishi Vigyan Kendras, new agricultural universities, and modern technology, UP has emerged as a leader in the production of paddy, wheat, pulses, and Shri Anna (millets).

Speaking about the turnaround in the sugarcane sector, CM Yogi recalled that from 2008 to 2017, sugarcane farmers were burdened with unpaid dues running into thousands of crores. “Our government ensured that not a single sugar mill was shut down, and at the same time, opened three new sugar mills, revived six, and expanded 38 others,” he said.

Between 2017 and now, Rs 2.80 lakh crore has been paid to sugarcane farmers — Rs 60,000 crore more than the total paid in the previous 22 years, he pointed out. Ethanol production has also surged, growing from 42 crore litres to 177 crore litres, he added.

Highlighting law and order as the biggest achievement of his government, CM Yogi said, “Before 2017, riots were a regular occurrence. Daughters and traders lived in fear. Today, there is a clear rule of law in Uttar Pradesh.” He cited the Prayagraj Mahakumbh as an example of effective governance, noting that during the 45-day event, not a single incident of molestation, robbery, or kidnapping was reported.

He also pointed out that in 2017, there were 1.5 lakh vacant police posts. Through a transparent recruitment process, the government appointed 1,56,000 police personnel and recently added another 60,200. “There were no police lines in 10 districts — today, we’ve built them in every district,” he added. Training capacity for police personnel has increased from 6,000 to 60,244.

CM Yogi noted that while the previous governments had abolished 54 companies of the PAC; his government reinstated them. Additionally, three women battalions and five new PAC battalions were established. Cyber police stations and help desks were set up, and the response time of Police Response Vehicle (PRV) 112 was brought down from 25 minutes 42 seconds to just 7 minutes 24 seconds. The “Safe City” project has taken shape with the installation of over 11 lakh CCTV cameras, ensuring greater surveillance and public safety.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the safety, dignity, and self-reliance of women form the foundation for a self-reliant society. Highlighting the transformation in women’s representation in the police force, he noted that from 1947 to 2017, there were only 10,000 women personnel. In recent recruitments alone, 12,000 women were added, taking the total to over 25,000. As a result, the share of women in the police force has increased from 14% to over 35%.

He shared that through the BC Sakhi initiative, banking services are now available in 57,000 gram panchayats. Additionally, one crore women have become self-reliant by joining self-help groups (SHGs).

The Chief Minister informed that 4.76 lakh weddings have been conducted under the Mass Marriage Scheme, and the financial assistance per marriage has now been increased from Rs 51,000 to Rs 1,00,000. Ownership rights have been provided to one crore women under the Svamitva Yojana, and hostels named after Ahilyabai Holkar in her honor, are being constructed for working women in six cities.

Focusing on youth development, CM Yogi stated that the unemployment rate, which was 19% in 2016-17, has declined to just 3% today. Over the past eight years, more than 8 lakh government jobs have been provided, and over 2 crore youth have been empowered through self-employment in the MSME sector. Furthermore, 50 lakh youth have been made digitally enabled through the distribution of tablets and smartphones. With 96 lakh MSME units, Uttar Pradesh leads the country in this domain.

The One District One Product (ODOP) scheme has revitalized traditional industries and entrepreneurship, with exports rising from Rs 86,000 crore to over Rs 2 lakh crore. Under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Yojana, the target is to create one lakh new entrepreneurs by March 31. Young entrepreneurs are being provided interest-free, collateral-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh. Artisans are also being supported through skill development and toolkits under the Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana.

Speaking on educational reforms, CM Yogi noted that cheating in exams, once seen as a norm, has now been eliminated through transparent and strict practices. Enrollments in Basic Education Council schools have increased by over 50 lakh. Every child receives Rs 1,200 for uniforms, school bags, books, shoes, and sweaters. Schools have been upgraded with facilities such as toilets, clean drinking water, digital libraries, and proper flooring.

For secondary schools, the Alankar Yojana was introduced. Several new higher education institutions have also been established, including state universities, a medical university, an Ayush university, and an additional agriculture university in six commissionerates. Ten new state universities and 21 private universities have been established. The Mukhyamantri Abhyudaya Coaching Scheme has been launched in every district, providing free guidance for competitive exams. Additionally, 100% scholarships are now being given to students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBC categories.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that over the past eight years, more than 6 crore people have been uplifted from poverty in Uttar Pradesh. He highlighted that 15 crore individuals have been receiving free ration consistently for the last five years. Additionally, 1.86 crore Ujjwala connections have been provided, with free LPG cylinders being distributed on festivals like Holi and Deepawali. Under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, 9 crore people have been issued Golden Cards for health coverage. Furthermore, housing has been provided to 56 lakh underprivileged families.

Speaking on social welfare, the Chief Minister noted that prior to 2017, around 55 lakh destitute women, senior citizens, and divyangjans received pensions. Today, this number has grown to 1.06 crore, and the pension amount has been increased from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000. In 2024–25, Rs 1.10 lakh crore was transferred to 9.08 crore beneficiaries via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), resulting in savings of Rs 10,000 crore. CM Yogi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving the goal of zero poverty in the upcoming financial year.

Presenting infrastructure achievements, CM Yogi remarked that Uttar Pradesh has undergone a dramatic transformation. “Earlier, potholes on the road signaled one had entered UP. Today, the state is recognized for its expressways,” he remarked.”

Currently, six expressways are operational in the state, and construction of 11 more is underway. Upon completion of the Ganga Expressway, Uttar Pradesh will account for 55% of the country’s expressway network. UP also boasts the largest railway network and the highest number of operational metro systems in the country. India’s first rapid rail between Delhi and Meerut and the first waterway between Haldia and Varanasi also began in UP.

Every district headquarters has been connected by four-lane roads. In 2017, only two airports were operational; today, the number has risen to 16, including four international airports. The country’s largest airport at Jewar is also nearing completion, positioning Uttar Pradesh as no longer landlocked.

On urban development, CM Yogi said the state has seen a remarkable transformation. In 2016–17, 10 of the country’s dirtiest cities were from Uttar Pradesh. Today, 17 municipal corporations in the state have become smart cities. The current year’s budget includes plans to convert the municipality of every district headquarters into a smart city. Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kanpur are being developed as State Development Regions. Additionally, India’s first ropeway service is set to launch soon in Varanasi, further boosting urban mobility and tourism, he pointed out.

CM Yogi Adityanath highlighted UP’s rapid progress in the energy sector, noting that while 1,28,494 villages received electricity between 1947 and 2017, his government electrified 1,21,000 majras in just eight years. From 2017 to 2024, over 1.65 crore free power connections were issued to the poor, compared to just 8.44 lakh between 2012 and 2017. Rural areas now receive 18 hours of power, tehsil headquarters 20 hours, and district headquarters 24 hours. Power generation has surged from 6,000 MW to 33,000 MW, with solar capacity rising from 228 MW to 2,653 MW. A 4,000 MW solar project in Bundelkhand is underway, aiming for 22,000 MW of green energy in five years.

CM Yogi Adityanath highlighted UP’s industrial growth, noting its rise from 14th place in Ease of Doing Business before 2017 to a top achiever today. With 33 sectoral policies and a seamless single-window system, over 500 NOCs are issued on one platform. Investment projects worth over ₹15 lakh crore have been grounded, cementing UP as a prime investment hub.

In the health sector, CM Yogi shared that until 2017, there were only 12 government medical colleges. Today, the number has risen to 80, including 44 government institutions. He highlighted the earlier poor state of nursing and paramedical colleges, which often lacked infrastructure and faculty. Now, nursing colleges are being developed in every medical college across the state.

He noted significant success in controlling communicable diseases, especially in 36 districts where encephalitis once claimed the lives of children. “We have achieved 85% control over encephalitis and 99% over Japanese encephalitis. The mortality rate due to dengue has reduced by 95%, and malaria by 56%,” he said. Uttar Pradesh now leads the nation in implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. MBBS seats have increased from 1,990 to 5,250, and PG seats from 741 to 1,871.

CM Yogi highlighted tourism growth, noting a surge from 21 crore annual tourists before 2017 to 67 crore in 2023. The Prayagraj Mahakumbh alone saw 67 crore devotees. “Faith is now a powerful driver of economic growth, boosted by better connectivity, security, and facilities,” he said.

Discussing fiscal management, the Chief Minister emphasized that over the past eight years, Uttar Pradesh’s economy has been strengthened without placing any additional burden on the public or increasing taxes. “We curbed corruption, stopped leakages, expanded income sources, and improved revenue generation. As a result, UP is now a revenue-surplus state,” he said.

He noted that UP’s economy, which was Rs 12.75 lakh crore in 2017, has more than doubled to Rs 27.5 lakh crore today. Per capita income has also grown from Rs 46,000 to Rs 1,24,000. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which amounted to just Rs 3,300 crore from 2000 to 2017, rose to Rs 14,808 crore between 2017 and 2024. The state’s banking business grew from Rs 12.30 lakh crore to Rs 29.66 lakh crore, while the Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio improved from 46% to 61%.

Citing an RBI report, CM Yogi stated that Uttar Pradesh leads the country with a 16.2% share in attracting funds for project financing. Currently, 132 companies from UP are listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, with a collective market capitalization exceeding Rs 3.68 lakh crore. The number of factories in the state increased from around 13,000 in 2017 to over 26,900 today, demonstrating significant industrial growth.

CM Yogi concluded by stating that Uttar Pradesh ranks first in the country in multiple sectors, including food grain, sugarcane, and potato production, ethanol output, ease of doing business, project financing, income tax returns, GeM portal procurement, skill development, MSME growth, PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Svamitva Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, and life and accident insurance schemes. “This transformation is the result of collective effort, team spirit, and honest commitment,” he said.