UP CM pushes youth policy with focus on education, jobs

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday directed officials to prepare an integrated youth policy aligned with the aspirations and expectations of the state’s young population, with a focus on education, skill development, employment, health and leadership.

Chairing a review meeting, Adityanath said the policy should be drafted after assessing the needs and aspirations of people in the 16-35 age group, according to a press statement.

He also called for the constitution of an independent commission of experts to monitor the holistic development of youth.

The chief minister directed officials to expedite the establishment of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Industrial and Employment Zone, consider expanding the Chief Minister Abhyudaya Coaching Scheme to every university and college, and accelerate the development of sports infrastructure, saying sporting activities are an effective means of keeping young people away from drug abuse.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Thursday said the Government would ensure the representation of every community in the Denotified and Nomadic Communities Development Board and work to extend the benefits of all Government welfare schemes to them.

Addressing members of denotified and nomadic communities who had gathered to thank the government for the board, which has been approved by the Cabinet recently, Adityanath said the initiative was part of the BJP-led Government’s policy of inclusive development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” vision.

“The new link in this chain of inclusive development is the Nomadic Communities Development Board,” the CM said.

Adityanath said members of denotified communities had been unfairly branded as “criminal tribes” under the British-era Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 because many among them had actively participated in India’s freedom struggle.

“The British declared them criminal tribes because they had made life difficult for the colonial rulers by participating directly and indirectly in the freedom movement,” he said.

The chief minister credited BR Ambedkar with removing the stigma after Independence by abolishing the colonial law and declaring them as denotified communities in 1952. He alleged that despite this, adequate efforts for their welfare were not made for decades.