Avail interest-free loan, turn entrepreneur: Yogi to youth

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who handed over loans to over 1,000 aspiring entrepreneurs, on Sunday urged youths from west Uttar Pradesh to seriously consider entrepreneurship by availing themselves of the benefits of various govt schemes being run in the state.
"With the govt covering the interest component, it is an ideal opportunity for youths," said the CM while presiding over a loan distribution programme organised to interact with youths from Meerut and Saharanpur administrative divisions.
A govt spokesperson said that Rs 48 crore would be doled out to 1,070 shortlisted individuals. The event, organised at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, highlighted the resolve of the Yogi govt towards building a better future for the youths. "We are committed to removing all the obstacles from the path which leads to your progress in life," the CM said, while appreciating the overwhelming response to the 'CM Youth Entrepreneur Scheme' launched on Jan 24.
Against the target of 1 lakh, the state has already received 2.67 lakh applications. Out of the ones that were forwarded to financial institutions, 25,000 were already approved with loans being distributed. On Sunday, it was time for such 1,070 youths to get the benefit of the scheme through which a loan of up to Rs 5 lakh can be availed. While the principal amount must be repaid by the applicant, the state is pitching in to pay the interest component.
In order to reach out to the marginalised, special provisions have been made for scheduled castes, tribes, and female applicants, and priority is being accorded to them. Yogi emphasised that the scheme is a significant step towards making youth self-reliant and realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision (Start-up India and Stand-up India).
Describing Meerut as the land of revolution and a sacred place, Yogi stressed the need to turn the city into an educational hub in the country. He assured that western UP will not be left behind during the further development of the state and promised to remove all barriers to create additional opportunities for the youths.
The CM outlined the achievements of the double-engine govt over the past eight years, noting that investments exceeding Rs 15 lakh crore were materialised, providing employment to 7 lakh youths in the private sector. Additionally, 7.50 lakh youths were given govt jobs.
By revitalising the MSME sector, UP has become number one in the country with 96 lakh units present across the length and breadth of the state. Products worth Rs 2.25 lakh crore are being exported, resulting in increased employment opportunities for the local population.
Referring to the recently concluded Maha Kumbh, the CM mentioned that 66.3 crore devotees attended the event safely and went back with positive experiences. He also pointed out the latest plan of the state govt to extend the Ganga Expressway to Haridwar, connecting two cities where Kumbh is organised periodically.
The introduction of the country's first rapid rail between Delhi and Meerut has made commuting easier while female students, working executives, traders, and businessmen continue to move freely due to the improved law and order situation, asserted Yogi.
Yogi also went through an exhibition which showcased the business plans and models of the entrepreneurs selected under the scheme. Youths from Meerut, Noida, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, and other districts participated in the exhibition.
"New Uttar Pradesh is going to become the foundation of a new India. The state govt would continue to back the youths and remove all the hurdles from the path of their progress," he said while passing on his good wishes ahead of Holi to the participants.
Yogi urged the youths to keep working towards the USD 1 trillion economy for the state and the USD 5 trillion economy of the country.
Ministers Rakesh Sachan, Somendra Tomar, Dinesh Khatik, MPs Laxmikant Vajpayee, Arun Govil, Rajkumar Sangwan, district panchayat president Gaurav Chaudhary, mayor Harikant Ahluwalia, MLAs Amit Agarwal, Ashwini Tyagi, Dharmendra Bhardwaj, Ghulam Mohammad, Satyendra Sisodia, Shivkumar Rana, Suresh Jain, among other dignitaries, were present at the event.