Q/State finances have been badly impacted by the lockdown. How can the Centre help?
A/In these testing times, the Centre’s assistance has been of great help. Financial assistance from the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana helped in making food grain available to the needy, while the second package of Rs20 lakh crore is proving to be helpful in strengthening the economy of the states, especially in boosting the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector. It is also helping in supporting street vendors, youth and workers who have returned from other states.
Q/What are the innovative ideas Uttar Pradesh is considering to tide over the financial crisis?
A/Our focus is entirely on ‘work for every hand and employment in every household’. Priority is also being given to the production of indigenous goods. This will further open up new job opportunities. Besides, we have also started several prestigious projects such as expressways, dedicated freight corridors and medical colleges. Thousands of workers are already engaged in these projects. Our government is also working on the concept of creating a land bank for setting up industries.
Q/Uttar Pradesh has been wooing businesses leaving China, especially Japanese companies.
A/We have been receiving good response from foreign investors who want to invest in Uttar Pradesh. We are talking to companies that want to shift their bases from China; we will provide [them] space. German footwear company Von Wellx is going to invest in Agra. Similarly, we are talking to many other interested companies. Japanese companies have shown interest in the Electronic City of (the upcoming) Jewar airport. Besides, they are also showing interest in logistics parks and the food processing sector. Apart from this, the industrial institutions with which we have signed MoUs under groundbreaking ceremony-1 and groundbreaking ceremony-2 are also setting up their units.
Q/Uttar Pradesh does face challenges as far as industrial townships and skilled workforce go. It is also deficient in other parameters that companies look for.
A/This land is full of rich resources and opportunities, whether we talk of manpower or infrastructure. The previous governments might have had a lax approach towards utilising available resources due to which people had to migrate to other states in search of jobs, but we are committed towards taking Uttar Pradesh to the pinnacle of development.
Our policies in different sectors are attracting huge investment. We are also making the changes required, following Covid-19. We are providing 24-hour electricity. Land is available for investors, and their safety is my guarantee. We will have the maximum number of expressways in the country. In the coming days, there will be metro connectivity in other major cities (besides Noida and Lucknow). The nation and the world will connect with Jewar airport (coming up near Greater Noida).
As the state with the largest population, we are the most endowed as far as human resources are concerned. There is no market bigger than Uttar Pradesh. Apart from a population of more than 23 crore, half of Bihar and Nepal depend on us for their economic, educational and medical needs. World-class IIT, polytechnics and ITIs provide lakhs of skilled human resources every year. All these things have to be communicated to investors. MoUs and investment projects progress are now tracked online. This will help existing investors and give new entrepreneurs the confidence to invest in the state.
Q/What can be done to sort out the present economic crisis? There are people without income and there is drop in consumption.
A/We are already far ahead in this process and have taken several measures to keep the wheels of the economy running. During the lockdown, we ensured that there was cash flow in the rural and urban economy. We bought food grain at MSP (minimum support price) from the farmers. We purchased 3.47 lakh quintal of wheat and Rs3,890 crore was paid directly into farmers’ accounts. Along with this, Rs2,000 was deposited in the bank accounts of the farmers twice under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Throughout the lockdown, crushing continued in 119 sugar mills in the state; 12,000 brick kilns were running and 2,500 cold storages continued to function. Around 25 lakh workers have been working in these three industries and we ensured that they were paid salaries. About 94 per cent of the units in the state paid salaries to their employees and Rs1,700 crore was paid to the companies from the government.
Q/How does Uttar Pradesh plan to capitalise on the migrant labour force which has returned to the state?
A/Workers coming back from other states are our asset, and providing them employment is our priority. So far, more than 32 lakh migrant workers have returned to Uttar Pradesh. They are being engaged in MSMEs, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme and other industries after mapping their skills. Their data is also being provided to labour and employment exchange offices in every district. The insurance cover of all workers is also being ensured. Many large industrial bodies including FICCI and the National Real Estate Development Council are coming forward to provide employment. Recently, we received a demand from the Noida Apparel Export Cluster asking for nearly two lakh workers—tailors and support staff. So you see, these workers have already started their contribution in building a new Uttar Pradesh.