With his government signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with different industries to ensure jobs to 11 lakh people, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Skill Development and Revenue department was mapping the skills of migrant returnees for employing them close to their homes at the earliest.

The agreement, signed between Indian Industries Association, FICCI, Laghu Udyog Bharati, NAREDCO and Government of Uttar Pradesh will provide employment to 11 lakh workers.

During a meeting with different industry associations on Friday, Yogi said that it was his government’s top priority to employ these workers at local level.

The chief minister said that small-scale industries were the biggest means to employ workers in the state and skill mapping of about 18 lakh workers had been done so far.

“My government is trying to provide employment to all workers returning to the state as they are our strength and resource. We will use them to build a new Uttar Pradesh. And the process has already started,” he said.

“I thank you for the strength with which you all acted on the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the fight against coronavirus,” the chief minister said.

Yogi added that 57,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) had taken advantage of loan mela following Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement of Rs 3 lakh crore government-backed guaranteed loans to MSMEs.

Later at a review meeting on lockdown, the chief minister reaffirmed that his government was committed to bringing back all workers safe and in dignified manner to the state. He said that the states concerned should be asked to furnish a list of workers willing to return so that their free train transit could be arranged.

Yogi expressed satisfaction over the availability of Pulse Oximeter in all districts and said that infrared thermometers would soon be supplied in every district.

The chief minister instructed officials to make arrangements in advance for a food grain distribution drive set to start from  June 1, 2020. He said purchase centres should facilitate farmers get a fair price of their produce.

Regarding the possibility of locust attack, Yogi said that precautionary measures be taken in a manner so that people do not panic over the issue.