Efforts on to give pace to development activities: Akhilesh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said his government is making all effort to bring back the state on path of development.

Unfurling the tricolour at Vidhan Bhavan in Lucknow on Independence Day, Mr. Akhilesh assured that the government will do everything to stand up to the expectations of people and said big decisions are being taken at all levels to give pace to economic activities.

Noting that the state is “lagging behind” in development for the past few years, the chief minister said the GDP of the state, which currently stands at 6.2 per cent, is aimed to be taken to 10 per cent during the 12th Five Year Plan.

Mr. Akhilesh said policies are being framed for development in the fields of agriculture, industry, information technology and renewable energy, apart from initiatives in higher education, housing and rehabilitation.

Agriculture is the mainstay of state’s economy and the sector will be the top priority of the state government, he said, adding that a budgetary provision of Rs 5,432 crore has been made in this regard.

He said with limited financial resources, the government will also take help of private sector for infrastructure and power projects and a number of projects on PPP model have already been started.

Mr. Akhilesh also listed various schemes like unemployment allowance, pension, Kanya Vidyadhan, education assistance to girls, free laptops to students launched by the government for betterment of masses.

He said Independence Day is a moment of special importance for the people of the state as Uttar Pradesh led the country in its freedom struggle.

Meanwhile at Samajwadi Party office, president Mulayam Singh Yadav paid tributes to those who laid down there lives for country’s freedom and stressed for all assistance to the freedom fighters to help them live with dignity.