Govt committed to providing jobs to skilled youth: CM

Time of India

a day ago

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Lucknow: Chief Minister
Yogi Adityanath
on Tuesday emphasised equipping the youth with cutting-edge skills such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital literacy and said the state govt has over the last 8 years taken several decisive steps to transform 'scale into skill'.
"Skilled youth are the backbone of a self-reliant India and the double-engine govt is committed to providing jobs and self-employment opportunities," Yogi said during his inaugural address at the Skill Fair and Exhibition on World Youth Skills Day.
He said as part of this digital empowerment mission, the state is distributing smartphones and tablets to 2 crore youth, of which 50 lakh have already benefited.
Addressing the gathering, he said UP holds immense potential, with almost 60% of its 25 crore population falling in the working-age category.
"For this, we are making consistent efforts in generating employment for youth," he said.
Yogi noted that this year's theme — "Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills" — is particularly significant for the state, as it aligns with the govt's broader vision of steering the youth toward a tech-driven future.
UP currently has around 400 govt and 3,000 private ITIs, where skill development training is offered at minimal cost.
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Students enrolled in private ITIs also receive scholarships and incentives. "Every youth deserves access to training and employment that reflects their talents and aspirations," he said.
Speaking about the state's investment-driven growth, the CM highlighted that over the past eight years, enhanced law and order and investor-friendly policies resulted in the implementation of investment proposals worth over Rs 15 lakh crore which in turn created lakhs of jobs.
Referring to the CM Yuva Scheme, Yogi said youth with skill development, ITI, polytechnic, or academic degrees are being offered interest-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh. Launched on Jan 24 this year, the scheme has already benefited over 50,000 youth. Under this, only the principal amount needs to be paid by the beneficiaries while the govt covers the interest. An additional loan facility of up to Rs 7.5 lakh will also be made available for scaling up.
He also highlighted the govt's efforts in reviving traditional industries through flagship schemes like One District One Product (ODOP) and Mukhyamantri Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana.
He said under ODOP, over 1.5 crore people gained employment while more than 1 lakh artisans and craftsmen received training and toolkits under the Vishwakarma Yojana. These initiatives, he said, significantly strengthened the rural economy.
Yogi also lauded the success stories of 15 youth who were recognised for their outstanding work.
"Of these, many were aimless after completing formal education, but skill development transformed their lives. Today, they are earning between Rs 25,000 and Rs 1,00,000 per month," the CM said.
Underscoring the need for greater synergy between educational institutions and industries, Yogi apprised the audience about an initiative where students engaged in industrial training complete their project work within industries, thereby gaining real-world experience.
As part of this, the govt will offer a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 for one year under the PM and CM internship schemes. After the internship, industries may choose to recruit the interns, or the experience will help them secure employment elsewhere.
Highlighting the role of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Yogi said the policy empowers students to pursue academic degrees and skill-based training simultaneously.
He praised the collaborative efforts of the secondary education department and ITIs, which are now offering vocational education within schools, allowing students to pursue dual degrees or certificate programmes.
He also pointed to emerging opportunities in futuristic sectors such as drone technology, robotics, artificial intelligence and 3D printing while reaffirming the continued demand for skilled professionals in traditional trades like plumbing, electrical work and air conditioning repair.
"Our goal is to align youth training with market demands to ensure maximum employability," he said.
Director, UP Skill Development Mission, Pulkit Khare, said the CM presented the 'Youth Icon' award to 15 outstanding youths and handed over appointment letters to 11 candidates during the event. He also flagged off five skill chariots to spread awareness across the state. In addition, industry representatives were honoured with the 'Industry Ambassador' award.
An MoU was also signed with Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Prayagraj, appointing it as a knowledge partner.