Previous govts fuelled caste conflicts, neglected youth and entrepreneurs: CM Yogi

Lucknow : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, said that the previous governments were too busy fueling caste-based conflicts, which left the youth of the state struggling with an identity crisis. He added that those governments not only ignored entrepreneurs but also encouraged caste-based divisions in society.

On the occasion of World MSME Day, the CM launched several key initiatives to promote entrepreneurship during a grand ceremony held at Lok Bhawan. In his address, the CM reaffirmed the commitment of the double-engine government to providing equal opportunities to youth from all communities by eliminating caste-based discrimination.

He inaugurated the ‘Youth Adda’ platform, launched the CM Yuva mobile app, and also unveiled ODOP Common Facility Center (CFC) projects worth Rs 18 crore in Bareilly and Moradabad.

During the event, CM Yogi mentioned that before 2017, Uttar Pradesh was known for riots, mafia gangs, and was one of the most unsafe states for daughters and traders. He accused previous governments of promoting caste-based conflicts and running the state based on family politics, where each district was controlled by a different mafia. As a result, people in the state faced an identity crisis.

He also pointed out that despite being established in 1950, Uttar Pradesh never celebrated its Foundation Day until January 24, 2018. “Earlier governments were too busy dividing society along caste lines and serving their own families instead of working for the state’s development,” he remarked.

At the event, CM Yogi inaugurated the ‘Youth Adda’, an initiative by UPICON to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. This platform will allow youth from all castes and communities to share their business ideas, get help with bank loans, and receive guidance from experienced mentors. CM Yogi emphasized that his government does not discriminate based on caste, region, or language. “We are committed to providing a platform to every talented youth,” he said.

He also launched the CM Yuva mobile app, a digital platform designed to connect youth with entrepreneurship opportunities. The app will provide access to training, loans, and information about government schemes without any discrimination. The CM said the app will ensure that no young person needs to run from one government office to another, as everything will be available in one place digitally.

CM Yogi further inaugurated Common Facilitation Center (CFC) projects worth Rs 18 crore in Bareilly and Moradabad under the ODOP scheme. He said, “ODOP has given each district’s unique product a global platform. The scheme has provided equal opportunities to artisans and entrepreneurs from all castes and communities, helping products like Moradabad’s brassware, Bhadohi’s carpets, and Lucknow’s chikankari gain international recognition.”

The Chief Minister shared that Uttar Pradesh now has over 96 lakh MSME units employing more than 2 crore people across all communities. He emphasized that the government has provided a financial safety net of Rs 5 lakh and social security to these units without any discrimination. With a 14% share in the country’s MSME sector, UP is now a leading state in this domain.

Reflecting on the state’s economic progress over the last eight years, CM Yogi said that Uttar Pradesh’s exports have grown from Rs 80,000 crore in 2017 to over Rs 2 lakh crore today. The per capita income has increased from Rs 46,000 to Rs 1.2 lakh, and the state’s GDP has surged from Rs 12 lakh 75 thousand crore to Rs 31 lakh crore. He credited this remarkable growth to improved law and order and the government’s commitment to providing equal opportunities to all communities.

He shared that under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan, 55,000 youth have been provided interest-free loans of Rs 5 lakh along with a 10% government subsidy. He emphasized that selections were made purely based on talent, not on caste or region. The initiative has opened up opportunities in entrepreneurship for youth from all communities.

Speaking about the Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, CM Yogi said that over 1 lakh traditional artisans have been given toolkits and access to affordable loans. These artisans come from various castes and communities, many of whom were previously neglected. “We have given respect and opportunities to artisans from every village and town so they can take their skills to new heights,” he added.

The CM also announced the third edition of the International Trade Show, scheduled to be held in Greater Noida from September 25 to 29 this year. He stated that the event will serve as a global platform to showcase and promote Uttar Pradesh’s MSME products to international buyers. He highlighted the success of the previous two editions, saying, “products made by artisans from all communities in UP have made a strong mark globally.”

During the event, a short film related to the upcoming International Trade Show was also screened, giving a glimpse into what the showcase will offer.

Highlighting the state’s commitment to preserving traditional crafts, CM Yogi informed that 77 products from UP have received the GI tag, and work is underway on 75 new applications. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Human Welfare Association to support artisans from all communities in protecting and promoting their products. “We will ensure that no one else can claim ownership of our cultural heritage,” the CM asserted.

In his address, CM Yogi laid special emphasis on speaking of his government’s core objective to eliminate caste-based discrimination and provide equal opportunities to every youth and artisan. He added that through such initiatives, Uttar Pradesh is playing a vital role in building India’s economy and realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India.

The event was attended by Cabinet Minister Rakesh Sachan, Agriculture Production Commissioner Deepak Kumar, Principal Secretary (MSME) Alok Kumar, SLVC Coordinator Shailendra Kumar Singh, and several senior officials and dignitaries from the MSME sector.

Allotment letters distributed to industrial units
CM Yogi distributed allotment letters to five industrial units from the Industrial area Khaymai, Aligarh. The beneficiaries included Satyendra Shukla and Vishal Gupta of Max Bolt Energy Industries Ltd., Aditi and Anshika Mittal of Manasrovar Ingot Pvt. Ltd., Pawan Ojha of Madwai India, Atul Sharma of Prabha International, Kuldeep Arya of Gayatri Building Material

MoU signed for promoting GI tag recognition
To increase the number of GI tags for Uttar Pradesh’s unique products, an MoU was signed in the presence of the Chief Minister. The agreement was exchanged between Commissioner of Industries K. Vijyendra Pandian and Padma Shri Dr. Rajnikant of the Human Welfare Association.

Cheques distributed under MSME Promotion Policy
CM Yogi handed over cheques to beneficiaries of the MSME Promotion Policy, including Prashant Lalwani from Skim Glasses, Varanasi, Jitendra Bahadur Singh from Jai Maa Durga Plywood Industries, Raebareli, Rajesh Madhesiya from Maa Ambe Rice Mill, Maharajganj, Govind Prasad from Savitri Industries, Gorakhpur, Naman Vaishya from Tirupati Balaji Print Pack Pvt. Ltd., Sant Kabir Nagar.

Financial support under Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan
Dummy cheques were also distributed under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan to young entrepreneurs including Aditi Singh (Varanasi), Durvijay (Gorakhpur), Pawan Kumar Mishra (Lucknow), Lalit Kumar and Diwakar Tiwari (Barabanki), and Garima Pandey (Lucknow).

ODOP Financing Scheme beneficiaries awarded
Under the ODOP Financing Scheme, financial assistance was given to Afsar Ali (Sitapur), Shravan Kumar (Barabanki), Rajesh Kumar Tripathi (Raebareli), Mohammad Nadeem (Unnao), and Rekha Malani (Lucknow).

Toolkits distributed under ODOP Training Toolkit Scheme
As part of skill development efforts, toolkits were distributed to artisans under the ODOP Training Toolkit Scheme. Beneficiaries included Ranjit Kumar (Raebareli), Kumari Jaya (Lakhimpur Kheri), Govind Yadav (Amethi), Vinod Kumar (Kaushambi) and Bahadur (Mirzapur).