Reflecting on the recently concluded ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony at Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandi Ben Patel said on Friday that the year 2024 has etched an indelible mark on the history of India.
Addressing both houses of the Legislature, the Governor said, “Establishing ‘Rashtra Mandir’, in the form of the magnificent Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, stands as a profound realization of the unwavering resolve and deep-seated faith of the Indian people. It represents further affirmation of India’s cultural pride.” Governor Anandi Ben Patel’s address also heralded the beginning of the Budget session in the UP State Assembly. The Governor also highlighted the tradition of organizing ‘Uttar Pradesh Diwas’ by the state government since 2018. She expressed the government’s unwavering commitment to the interests of farmers and elaborated on the recent increase in sugarcane prices.
Shifting focus to the UP Global Investors Summit held in February 2023, the Governor highlighted that investment proposals exceeding Rs 40 lakh crore had been received from both domestic and international investors. “These proposals, spanning various sectors and encompassing all 75 districts of the state, hold the potential to generate employment opportunities for approximately 1.10 crore people. To translate these proposals into reality, ground breaking ceremony will be conducted, fostering extensive employment opportunities,” the Governor added.
Discussing the state government’s efforts to enhance the convenience and seamless pilgrimage experience for Ram devotees in Ayodhya, the Governor emphasized the completion of numerous infrastructure development projects in the city. “Today, Ayodhya is blessed with excellent water-land-sky connectivity. Development projects worth about Rs 31,000 crore are underway here.”
Regarding Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025, the Governor said that the government is diligently making arrangements to ensure the safety, service, and convenience of saints, bathers, devotees, Kalpavasis, tourists, researchers, and curious individuals from across the globe. She expressed confidence that Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025 will create a new record at the global level.
The Governor further stated, “Embracing the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,’ the government is dedicated to uplifting all sections of society, particularly the poor, farmers, women, and the youth, without any discrimination. To address public grievances, ‘Sampoorna Samadhan Diwas’ is being organized regularly at the Tehsil level, and ‘Thana Diwas’ at the police station level.”
Swift and effective resolution of public issues and complaints is facilitated through platforms such as the ‘Chief Minister Helpline 1076,’ IGRS, and others. In order to implement the resolution of service, good governance, and poor welfare effectively, the Chief Minister Command Center and ‘CM Dashboard’ have been set up, the Governor added.
Highlights of the Governor’s address:
With the resolve of good governance, my government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards crime and criminals, aiming to foster peace in the state and ensure the safety of every citizen. According to the NCRB report, Uttar Pradesh holds the distinguished position of being the number one state in the country for effectively punishing criminals involved in crimes against women.To make Uttar Pradesh a trillion dollar economy, significant measures have been undertaken by the state government across all facets of the economy, encompassing financial and social infrastructure.
As a result of robust law and order, ease of doing business, investment-friendly policies, and a commitment to good governance, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a ‘dream destination’ for investment in the country. Uttar Pradesh has established itself as a revenue surplus state due to better fiscal management.
The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra has proven instrumental in extending the direct benefits of government schemes to every needy and deprived person. Through efficient and effective policies, approximately 6 crore people in Uttar Pradesh have been lifted out of multidimensional poverty.
The first edition of the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show held in September 2023 has helped in showcasing the excellent products and innovations etc. of various sectors of the state in front of the world.MSME Sector, One District, One Product Scheme and Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana to provide strength to traditional products and people associated with traditional professions.
The government has decided to develop a new industrial township in Jhansi. With the inauguration of Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya, at present, four international airports have become functional in the state. South Asia’s largest international airport is going to open soon in Jewar, Noida. With this, Uttar Pradesh will become the only state in India to have five international airports. In the state, widening/strengthening of 9 km of roads and reconstruction of 12 km of roads is being carried out everyday whereas one bridge is being built every two days.
To encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, the Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy-2022 has been implemented. To date, subsidies totaling over Rs 16 crore have been extended to more than 5 thousand buyers of both two-wheelers and four-wheelers as part of this initiative.Under the new bus service, 97 Lucknow Rajdhani Express service and 91 Delhi Rajdhani Express service have been started.
Under Uttar Pradesh Data Center Policy-2021, the target of developing 03 private data center parks and a 250 MW data center industry in the state was achieved in the first year itself. Over the past seven years, there has been a tenfold increase in solar energy-based power projects in the state. In 2017, the total capacity of solar energy projects installed in the state was 288 MW, which has now surged to 2596 MW.
The capacity of solar rooftop plants has witnessed a growth of more than 4.5 times in the last seven years. The state government is actively working towards transforming Ayodhya and Varanasi into model solar cities.
Under the Mukhyamantri Nagar Srijan Yojana, basic essential facilities are being developed and strengthened in 241 expanded urban bodies. Chief Minister Green Road Infrastructure Development Urban (CM GRID) Scheme has been started. The ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ has been extensively implemented by the current state government, resulting in an increase of enrollment by approximately over 40 lakhs in six years.
Under Operation Kayakalp, more than 93 percent of the 1 lakh 32 thousand 594 council schools in the state have been equipped with 19 basic infrastructure facilities. Educational activities have commenced at the recently established Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh State University in Aligarh, Maa Shakumbhari Devi University in Saharanpur, and Maharaja Suheldev University in Azamgarh. An amount of more than Rs 16 crore 50 lakh has been approved for establishing Maa Pateshwari Devi State University in Devipatan division.
It is proposed to establish Maa Vindhyavasini State University in the Vindhyachal Dham division and 01 State University in the Moradabad division. In the year 2023 (from January to October), approximately 37 crore 90 lakh tourists visited Uttar Pradesh, comprising 37 crore 77 lakh Indians and 13 lakh 43 thousand foreign tourists. In view of the International Millets Year-2023, over 43 thousand 475 seed minikits of various millet crops have been distributed.
the cultivation area of sugarcane has increased by 9 lakh 12 thousand hectares. Prior to 2017, sugarcane production stood at around 72 metric tons per hectare, which has jumped now to approximately 84 metric tons per hectare, witnessing an increase of 11.57 percent.
Under the Mukhyamantri Nirashrit Govansh Sahbhagita Yojana, till now 02 lakh 01 thousand 823 destitute cows have been handed over to the families of malnourished children. To support the maintenance of these cows, a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per cow is provided to the beneficiaries.
Milk production has provisionally increased from 362 lakh metric tonnes to 391 lakh metric tonnes in the year 2023-24. New green field dairy plants have been established in Varanasi, Moradabad, Gorakhpur, Kannauj, Bareilly, Lucknow, Ayodhya, while new green field dairy plants have been constructed in Kanpur and Meerut. Free food grains are being distributed every month to 3 crore 60 lakh Antyodaya and eligible household card holders.
Under ‘One District One Medical College Scheme’, 45 districts of the state have been covered with 66 medical colleges. Centrally aided medical colleges are being established in 14 districts, while medical colleges are being set up in 16 unserved districts on the PPP model.
Under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, 17 lakh 82 thousand girls have benefited thus far.Arrangements have been made to provide appointments on gazetted posts to medal-winning players of the state in international sports competitions. As part of this initiative, appointment letters have been issued to 10 players.. As of now, the marriages of 3 lakh 19 thousand 93 couples have been solemnized under the Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana. Installation of CCTV cameras at important places in the Safe City Project for the safety of women and senior citizens.
Under Operation Trinetra, 8 lakh 54 thousand 634 CCTV cameras have been installed. 4,800 PRV vehicles are operated under ‘UP 112’. Translation services are being provided through Integration 112 for citizens from various states speaking different languages during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj 2024.
Anti land mafia task force has been formed and anti land mafia portal developed to remove illegal encroachment from public properties. By resolving 03 lakh 70 thousand 748 complaints of illegal encroachment and taking action against encroachers, more than 66 thousand 872 hectares of land have been freed.
