Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, said that the double-engine government at the Centre and the state was delivering on the promise of ‘Har haath ko kaam, har haath ko rozgar’ by creating ample employment opportunities in the state.

Speaking at the mega Rozgar Mela organised at the Madan Mohan Malviya Technological University campus, Yogi said that today Uttar Pradesh abounded with employment opportunities, advising the youths to opt a field of their interest and prepare themselves by engaging in training. He added that the government would guarantee their jobs.

The chief minister also distributed appointment letters to the newly-recruited employed trainees and loans worth Rs 500 crore for self-employment on the occasion. The programme was organised jointly by Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission, Labour and Employment department and government ITI.

The chief minister said that when Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya had given the slogan of ‘work for every hand, water for every field’, it appeared an impossible target. However, post-2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had turned it into reality. He said the double-engine government was providing employment opportunities to every individual without any discrimination.

“Prime Minister Modi has enabled a corruption-free system by opening Jan Dhan accounts, transferring funds through DBT and connecting villages with Digital India. Through Make in India, Startup India, Standup India, Mudra Yojana, Vishwakarma Yojana, employment opportunities and self-employment have been promoted for the youth across the country,” he stated.

Yogi said that the youths who came to the Rozgar Mela but were not able to get employment for some reason, would be linked to the PM-CM Internship Scheme under which they would receive training in addition to stipend. He said the government would cover half of the stipend, while the remaining half would be contributed by the relevant industry. He said after receiving training in the industry, the youths would get employment and the society and country would benefit from their energy and talent.

The chief minister congratulated those who got placement through the Rozgar Mela, and told those who were not selected to not to get disappointed. The chief minister remarked, “Keep the spirit of hard work, choose the field of your interest, acquire relevant training and the government will ensure your job.”

Extending best wishes to everyone for Ashtami, Navami, and Vijayadashami during Shardiya Navratri, the chief minister also offered prayers to Bhagwati and Lord Ram to fulfill the wishes of all.

He said that the state had struggled to attract investments in the past, but today, it had attracted investment proposals of Rs 38 lakh crore. He said these investments held the promise of generating job opportunities for around 1.10 crore young individuals. “When the youth gets trained as per industry requirements, they could easily get employment in their own state and district,” he added.

Pointing to the remarkable success of the ODOP scheme in Uttar Pradesh, the chief minister said that when the ODOP initiative was launched, many considered traditional craft industries to be outdated. “However, the state government’s approach of integrating these industries, which are the living heritage of our ancestors, with modern technology, effective branding, and robust marketing, resulted in the creation of 40 lakh jobs within this sector during the lockdown,” he added.

Yogi said that during the challenging times of the lockdown, the government ensured the safe return of people from other states to their homes in Uttar Pradesh and also provided them employment opportunities. He said many individuals who returned to Uttar Pradesh had since been contributing to the state’s economy. “State’s economy has grown in proportion to the number of people who returned, whereas the economies of the states they left were negatively impacted by a corresponding percentage,” he said.

The chief minister highlighted that only three crore tourists used to visit the state annually in the past. “Presently, this number has surged to 32 crore. There is a need to recognise the potential and impact of this growth,” he said.

He emphasised that the tourism sector was a vital source of employment. “It generates job opportunities for individuals involved in various aspects of the industry, such as taxis, restaurants, hotels, as well as vendors selling prasad and flower garlands,” he said.

Yogi said that 450 homestays had been registered in Ayodhya, while there was a plan to increase this number to over 1,500. “Homestays not only offer lodging options but also create employment opportunities. Additionally, young people could find work as tourist guides at these popular destinations,” he said.

Furthermore, he noted that collecting flowers and leaves used at religious tourist sites and utilising them to create incense sticks and perfumes can open up new avenues for employment. This process would not only generate jobs but also exemplify the transformation of waste materials into valuable products, representing a form of sustainable and resourceful innovation.

The chief minister expressed the belief that no one is inherently ineligible, and if someone appears to be lacking in certain areas, it likely signifies a need for proper guidance. He underscored the importance of the Rozgar Mela, which involved 125 companies offering around 34,000 job vacancies, as a platform for capable recruitment.

He encouraged the youth to persistently strive for their goals, emphasising that the government is committed to provide them opportunities to progress. In line with this commitment, the state government is actively engaged in equipping the youth with technical competence by distributing tablets and smartphones to two crore youth, he pointed out.

Yogi said that in view of the need of 1.08 lakh plumbers under Jal Jeevan Mission and plumbers for the PNG pipeline, arrangements were being made to provide employment by training them.

Highlighting the growing self-reliance of women, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged the increasing leadership roles that daughters are assuming in various fields.

“Many women are boosting their household income by participating in initiatives like BC Sakhi, engaging in the readymade garments and carpet industry, while efficiently managing their homes and families,” the chief minister said.

The chief minister informed that in 56,000 villages across the state, women are earning between Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 monthly as BC Sakhi, which further illustrates the economic and social empowerment of women in Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, he also distributed loans from various schemes to six beneficiaries on behalf of Baroda UP Bank for self-employment.

On this occasion, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Vocational Education and Skill Development Kapil Dev Aggarwal, Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan, Kushinagar MP Vijay Dubey, Gorakhpur Mayor Manglesh Srivastava, MLA Shriram Chauhan, Rajesh Tripathi, Mahendrapal Singh, Vipin Singh, Vimlesh Paswan, Pradeep Shukla, MLC harmendra Singh, MMMUT Vice-Chancellor JP Saini were present.