Tag: uttar pradesh

Categories
Business

UP team on world tour to woo investors

UP minister, officials on world tour for 2023 Global Investors Summit.

UP minster and higher officials are on a tour to many countries including Australia, Singapore in a bid to the investors…writes PAWAN TRIPATHI

Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit to be held next year in February, a delegation of state minister and officials is on a visit to many countries to attract foreign investors.

Cabinet Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, Noida-Greater Noida CEO Ritu Maheshwari, Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) CEO Arun Vir Singh, are on a tour to many countries including Australia, Singapore in a bid to the investors.

Three Japanese companies will invest Rs 17,500 crore in the YEIDA area. YEIDA during roadshows in Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with several companies for investment. A big company has expressed its willingness to invest up to Rs 20,000 crore in Medical Device Park.

While some companies can invest up to Rs 10,000 crore in data centres. Agreements will be made on all these proposals in one to two days. With the investment of foreign companies, there will be a strong possibility of providing employment to about 60,000 people in the state including Gautam Budh Nagar.

Takeshi Ando of Nissenken Quality Evaluation Center has signed an MoU with Tokyo Laborties for setting up a Quality and Evaluation Center in Textile and Apparel Park on about 100 acres of land in YEIDA area. This project will provide employment to about 10,000 people under the Yamuna Authority.

SLG Capital Singapore will invest around Rs 8000 crore in Noida, Greater Noida. This agreement has been signed in the presence of UP Minister Swatantra Dev Singh.

This is a major success for the UP government in its effort to attract investors in Singapore. CEO of Noida-Greater Noida Authority, Ritu Maheshwari signed the MoU with the representative of the company. The data centre will be set up in Noida-Greater Noida area, the location will be selected later.

Representatives of the State Government also met the representatives of Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SICCI) during the roadshow in Singapore. The investors from Singapore were assured of providing land and other facilities.

Through the Global Investors Summit, SICCI will cooperate with investors from Singapore to invest in Uttar Pradesh. For this, an MoU has also been signed with SICCI in the presence of Cabinet Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) CEO Mayur Maheshwari and Noida-Greater Noida Authority CEO Ritu Maheshwari.

Students of Gautam Buddha University will also soon be able to study and conduct research on topics such as urban agriculture, urban forestry, green cities and water conservation at Western Sydney University. Cabinet Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, Ritu Maheshwari have tied up with Western Sydney University.

This will create better future prospects for the students here. Under the agreement with Western Sydney University, students of both the countries will be able to study together.

ALSO READ: Microsoft bans cryptocurrency mining from its online services

Categories
India News

Tourism to get ‘industry’ status in Uttar Pradesh

Rajasthan has recently accorded industry status to its hospitality sector. Uttarakhand, Goa, Kerala have also taken the step. Industry players are of the view that the tourism sector can give a big push to Uttar Pradesh’s economy…reports Asian Lite News

The tourism sector in Uttar Pradesh is all set to get an industry status.

Official sources said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given his consent to the proposal.

“A decision in principle to award industry status to tourism and hospitality sector has been taken and now an experts’ committee is weighing its pros and cons so that the best investor-friendly draft is put up for the state cabinet’s approval,” a government spokesman said.

The proposed changes will be made in the new tourism policy which is being drafted.

Rajasthan has recently accorded industry status to its hospitality sector. Uttarakhand, Goa, Kerala have also taken the step. Industry players are of the view that the tourism sector can give a big push to Uttar Pradesh’s economy.

Uttar Pradesh is a leading state in terms of tourism, with 109.71 million domestic tourists and 33,737 foreign tourists in 2021; and the kind of work that has been done in the state over the past few years, the “growth is bound to be remarkable”.

Citing an example of Varanasi, the spokesman said that over one crore pilgrims visited Kashi in the month of ‘Shravan’ which is ‘a breath-taking piece of data’.

Once the Ram temple in Ayodhya is built, the footfall is expected to go up manifold.

Experts are of the view that industry status will make investment in the sector easier besides making it more sustainable.

“Power charges and taxes will come down significantly once tourism becomes an industry in Uttar Pradesh. This will also make land allotment easier for new projects in places like Varanasi which is very short of land for expansion,” said an official.

They also opined that the industry status to the tourism and hospitality sector will help in reviving the area which has suffered immensely during the pandemic years.

“Industry status will lower the input cost for revival of hotels and resorts which will prevent loss making entities from closure. Alongside, it will encourage subsisting projects to re-start,” said a member of the Uttar Pradesh hotels and restaurants association.

The move will also facilitate development of heritage hotels and homestays, many of which do not move forward because banks put too many checks before awarding loans.

But more than that, in the longer run, it will fuel local economies and also work towards conservation of local art, craft, tradition and cuisine.

ALSO READ-Lanka looks to Saudi travelers to boost tourism industry

Categories
India News

Yogi pulls up police over Lulu mall protests

Addressing video-conferencing on Monday evening, the Chief Minister said that Lulu mall, a business establishment, had been turned into a political hotbed….reports Asian Lite News

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has hauled up the district and police administration over the protests organised outside Lulu mall in state capital Lucknow.

He has directed the Lucknow administration to check anti-social elements from disturbing communal harmony and lawlessness.

“It should take the matter seriously and such lapses will not be tolerated. Miscreants trying to create disturbance in the mall should be dealt with strictly,” he said.

Addressing administrative and police officers through video-conferencing on Monday evening, the Chief Minister said that Lulu mall, a business establishment, had been turned into a political hotbed.



“Unnecessary statements were being made by certain people and demonstrations being organised to obstruct the movement of people visiting the mall. No one should be permitted to obstruct traffic on the road by organising prayers or other events,” he directed.

Meanwhile, the Lucknow Police Commissionerate said that the alleged video of four persons being portrayed as those who allegedly offered namaz in Lulu mall on July 12 was fake.

This video, which went viral on July 15, was actually of the people which police arrested on July 15 for an attempt to recite Hanuman Chalisa and offer namaz inside the mall, said police officials.

The Chief Minister further asked police officers to review the situation in their respective districts and keep an eye on anti-social elements.

Talking about the Amroha incident where two Kanwariyas were killed in a road accident, Adityanath said, “If the Kanwariyas had gone on the wrong side, then where was the patrol party? It clearly shows that the police team was not present at the spot.”

He added that during the month of ‘Sawan’ along with Kanwar Yatras, various programmes will be organised across the state. At some places, ‘Jalabhisek’ will be organised, as will be Yatras, melas and other events and the focus should be on security and alertness.

“There are inputs that anti-social elements might attack the Kanwariyas at evening while they are resting. There should be proper security at the spot where they rest as well as along the route they travel on. There should be traffic diversion on the route,” he said.

The Chief Minister added that a work plan must be prepared for the management of the crowd at major temples in coordination with the temple management.

Buses run by the UPSTRC which are in good condition should be permitted to ply on the road. Officers should ensure that ramshackle buses are removed from service, Adityanath said.

Focus should be on cleanliness and drinking water during festivals and at melas, he added.

ALSO READ: India, China agree to keep talks alive

Categories
India News

Huge student dropout from UP Board exams


According to official sources, the 7.8 lakh figure surpasses the total dropouts recorded in 2020 (4.8 lakh) and 2019 (6.5 lakh)….reports Asian Lite News

Nearly 7.8 lakh students have dropped out of the ongoing Class 10 and 12 examinations of the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP), also known as the UP Board.

On Monday, a whopping 2.9 lakh class 10 and 12 students skipped their exams.

Class 10 and 12 students had Computer and Geography exams respectively on Monday.

According to official sources, the 7.8 lakh figure surpasses the total dropouts recorded in 2020 (4.8 lakh) and 2019 (6.5 lakh).

There were no exams in 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The UP Board exams began on March 24


In fact, the number of students skipping the exam so far is the highest in almost a decade.

In 2013, 5.6 lakh absentees were recorded by the UPMSP, which conducts exams.

The UP Board 2022 examinations saw 4.1 lakh students missing the examinations on day one when Hindi exam was slated for both Class 10 and 12.

The UPMSP saw over 70,200 students not attending their languages paper which was held on March 26. The languages include Urdu, Tamil, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati, Punjabi, Nepali, etc.

The high numbers have now forced officials to probe the reasons for dropouts.

Additional Chief Secretary, Secondary Education, Aradhana Shukla has directed the UPMSP secretary to constitute a committee and involve the district inspector of schools to ascertain the circumstances that made students to leave their exams even after filling the forms.

However, officials said they feel the high dropouts is due to Covid-19 pandemic that has affected people’s financial situation.

“This could be an important reason other than strict security measures which are in place to curb the cheating menace,” said a senior official.

ALSO READ: India, Lanka hold working group meet on fisheries

Categories
India News Uttar Pradesh

6 Mega Health Parks to be set up across UP 

Six Dhanwantri Mega Health Parks will be set up in the state with an investment of about Rs 30,000 crore….reports Asian Lite News

The Yogi Adityanath government, even before being officially sworn in for the second term, is preparing to further improve and develop and health infrastructure in the state.

The government is preparing to fulfil its promise of a government medical colleges with state-of-the-art facilities in every district of the state.

According to the government spokesman, six Dhanwantri Mega Health Parks will be set up in the state with an investment of about Rs 30,000 crore.

This will make the state self-sufficient by expanding the production of medical facilities like health and surgical instruments and medicines on a large scale.

Under the Maharishi Sushruta Health Infrastructure Mission, health infrastructure will be improved for a better health system at every level with a cost of over Rs 10,000 crore.

In addition to doubling the number of seats for medical courses like MBBS, over 6,000 doctors and 10,000 paramedical staff will be appointed in the state.

Along with this, doubling the number of ambulances equipped with state-of-the-art life support facilities in UP, dialysis centres in every district, expanding the network of Jan Aushadhi Kendras with TB free state by 2025 to provide essential medicines at affordable prices to all citizens is also on the cards.

ALSO READ: BJP weighs options for Uttarakhand CM post

Categories
Arab News News Uttar Pradesh

Indo-Israel centre helps farmers in UP

Indo-Israel centre helps farmers in UP

The exchange of technology in the agricultural sector is changing the lives of farmers in Uttar Pradesh…reports Asian Lite News

The Indo-Israel Centre for Excellence, located 200 metres off the Basti-Gorakhpur highway, started commercial operations and is helping increase the income of farmers.

The setting up of the centre on a Rs 7.5 crore budget started in October 2018 and the aim was to introduce innovations in farming by adopting Israeli technology.

The department of horticulture and food processing, which operates the centre, has started assisting non-farmers.

ALSO READ: Farm fury spills onto more Pak cities

“Any individual interested in planting a mango tree of the latest variety or an orchard can pick up ready saplings. Vegetable saplings are also available here. Earlier, we were catering to farmers only but now we provide saplings to everyone,” said joint director Atul Kumar Singh.

The centre, situated in Banjariya village of Basti Sadar Assembly constituency, is transforming the way farming is done in the area.

Rishi Yadav, a farmer from Sant Kabir Nagar (Khalilabad) plans to grow watermelons and muskmelons on his four-hectare land in Urdahwa and has placed an order for 53,000 saplings.

“All parties used to talk about farmers welfares and increasing their income till now, but nothing has happened on the ground. In the past two years, we have seen innovation in agriculture. Change is visible and one can spot cucumber, okra, sponge gourd and other vegetables in villages,” he said.

Categories
India News Politics

What results mean for BJP

A victory in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections is especially crucial for the BJP in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, reports Asian Lite News

The victory in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Uttarakhand has come as a shot in the arm for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the backdrop of the farmers’ agitation, Covid-19 pandemic, inflation and unemployment — factors that were expected to hurt the party’s prospects.

Results for assembly elections to five states, held over February and March, were announced Thursday. While the BJP won the aforementioned three states and looked set to assume power in Goa — where it reached the halfway mark — Punjab went to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

A victory in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections is especially crucial for the BJP in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

With 80 Lok Sabha seats, the state is critical for the party in terms of laying the groundwork and generating momentum for its campaign to ensure a third consecutive term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The route to Delhi is via Lucknow. Since Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats in the Lok Sabha, it’s very important for the BJP to be in power in Uttar Pradesh to return to power in 2024…” Union Home Minister and the BJP’s chief strategist Amit Shah said in an interview last week.

The victory is also significant as it marks the first time in nearly 40 years that an incumbent government has been voted to power again in Uttar Pradesh.

Modi was the single most dominant factor for the BJP in UP, Uttarakhand and Manipur as the party campaign focussed on the benefits of a “double-engine” government, besides Covid-19 vaccination and the free rations scheme introduced to ease the blow of the pandemic on economically weaker sections. 

The victory can be seen as a stamp of approval for PM Modi’s pro-poor policies and the last-mile delivery of schemes.

UP Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, has risen as a formidable vote catcher for the BJP in the Hindi heartland. His brushes with controversies only add to his popularity, the results suggest, and a new Modi-Yogi iteration of Hindutva politics has reinforced the BJP in UP.

The voters had appeared anguished with inflation, stray cattle menace, poor Covid-19 management, and unemployment, but not enough to vote out the BJP government. A protracted agitation of farmers had minimal impact on the polls, as the BJP won many seats in its epicentre of west UP.

The election saw a decimation of the Bahujan Samaj Party, helping the BJP more than the SP. The Congress only helped in creating an atmosphere for the SP alliance, and barely opened its account.

Punjab’s voters have given a decisive mandate for an ‘alternative politics’ promised by the AAP, which won 92 out of 117 seats. AAP, which has been in power in Delhi for seven years, has built a reputation for its welfare schemes, particularly in health and education — two sectors that voters care a lot about.

That reputation stood AAP in good stead in Punjab, while the Congress and SAD were done in by the burden of their past sins. The projection of Bhagwant Mann as Chief Minister helped AAP, while the Congress seemed to have gained little by advertising the Dalit identity of Charanjit Singh Channi, who was appointed Chief Minister just five months ahead of the elections. The decimation of SAD signals the diminishing appeal of ‘Panthic’ or Sikh religious politics. The Sanyukt Samaj Morcha (SSM) — an amalgamation of 22 Punjab-based farmer outfits that spearheaded the agitation that forced the Centre to withdraw three controversial farm laws that it had enacted — failed to make any political impact.

In Goa, the BJP retained power, though the Congress put up a spirited fight. Goans can breathe easy, now that the State is not heading to yet another round of skulduggery to form a government. The BJP was also helped by the division of votes by players such as the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Trinamool Congress, and AAP.

The BJP’s strategy of selecting candidates on the basis of ‘maximum winnability’ yielded rich dividends for the party. Manipur did not escape the general trend in the northeast, where people tend to vote for the party or coalition in power at the Centre since the States are dependent on Delhi for funds. The BJP emerged on top and the Congress cut a sorry figure, behind smaller parties such as the Naga People’s Front. The election was bereft of emotional issues, and the BJP gained from its development rhetoric. The demand for Scheduled Tribe status for the Meiteis, the community that dominates the Imphal and Jiribam valleys comprising 40 of the State’s 60 seats, failed to get traction. Neither did a controversial demand for greater autonomy to the tribal councils straddling the 20 constituencies in the hills.

In Uttarakhand, the BJP retained power despite setbacks it had to deal with, while the Congress squandered its chances, getting bogged down in internal power tussles. But the defeat of its Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, is a serious embarrassment for the BJP. A fresh face would mean a fourth person as Chief Minister in a little over a year.

ALSO READ-Split in opposition votes helped BJP in Goa: Chidambaram

Categories
-Top News India News Politics

Unrest begins in Congress

The Congress’ disgruntled group is likely to convene a meeting on Saturday or Sunday to discuss the poll results as the leaders are upset with the party’s performance in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur….reports Asian Lite News

There is a simmering tension in the Congress after the poll debacle in the state elections and the leaders are miffed with the functioning style of the leadership. The issue may heat up when the G-23 leaders meet in the days to come.

One of the prominent leaders admitted that “it is the time that the first family step aside and pave the way for a new leadership or act in tandem with the party leaders and be available 24 by 7 for party work otherwise Congress revival will not happen in the country.”

The leaders point that the present setup is non performing and it has to be changed as the party is not ‘someone’s fiefdom’ and everyone has a stake in the party. They also suggest that leaders like Sachin Pilot or Manish Tewari should be given charge of the party.

One of the aides, who worked for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, now a rebel within is Pankaj Shankar. He tweeted, “Accountability needs to fixed for the rejection in recent elections Failed in your duties, not doing a favour to the Congress party”.

The Congress’ disgruntled group is likely to convene a meeting on Saturday or Sunday to discuss the poll results as the leaders are upset with the party’s performance in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur.

The G-23 group has been sidelined in the party since they raised the issue of reforms in the Congress and election for the top post.

Some G-23 leaders, whom the IANS contacted, refused to speak during the day after results — that turned out to be disappointing — and said they will formalise a strategy.

The group admitted that the people have lost confidence in Rahul Gandhi and his team has failed him, and now Priyanka’s team has also failed to perform.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that they will analyse the poll loss.

This is not the first loss. The party has already lost crucial polls in Kerala and Assam where the party could have won.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted: “All of us who believe in @INCIndia are hurting from the results of the recent assembly elections. It is time to reaffirm the idea of India that the Congress has stood for and the positive agenda it offers the nation.

“And to reform our organisational leadership in a manner that will re-ignite those ideas and inspire the people. One thing is clear – Change is unavoidable if we need to succeed.”

Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said he accepted the people’s verdict and congratulated the winning parties.

ALSO READ: BJP considering Ajay Bhatt for Uttarakhand CM post

Categories
-Top News India News

Yogi busts ‘Noida jinx’

According to the latest trend, the BJP has won 21 and is leading in 231 assembly constituencies with 41.80 per cent vote share in Uttar Pradesh…reports Asian Lite News

After over three decades, Yogi Adityanath returned to power in Uttar Pradesh by breaking the ‘Noida jinx’, according to which any Chief Minister who visited the city loses power.

After becoming Chief Minister in 2017, Yogi Adityanath has visited Nodia multiple times to inaugurate, lay the foundation of several development projects and administrative work.

The Noida jinx was a talking point in the Uttar Pradesh power corridor after Chief Minister Veer Bahadur Singh had to step down in 1988 within a few days after his return from the city.

According to the latest trend, the BJP has won 21 and is leading in 231 assembly constituencies with 41.80 per cent vote share in Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is leading from Gorakhpur Urban seat by over 90,000 votes.

Former Chief Ministers Kalyan Singh, Rajnath Singh and Mulayam Singh Yadav had avoided visiting Noida during their chief ministership. In recent times, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati visited Noida in 2007 after becoming chief minister and she lost the assembly polls in 2012. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akshilesh Yadav also followed the trend during his five-year tenure from 2012.

During his visit to the city in January, Adityanath took a dig at Mayawati and Yadav by saying that power was more important for them so they were hesitant to visit Noida. When asked about the jinx, Noida MLA Pankaj Singh, who is currently leading, had said that Chief Minister Adityanath has personally taken care of development of the city and its people by visiting multiple times.

ALSO READ: BJP’s saffron surge in UP

Categories
-Top News India News

UP: BJP ahead in 248 seats, SP in 112

The Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) were leading in two and four Assembly constituencies respectively….reports Asian Lite News

The ruling BJP was leading in 248 seats and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP) was ahead in 112 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission trends on Thursday showed.

Trends were available for 399 seats of 403 till 12 noon. The Apna Dal (Sonelal) was leading in 12 Assembly seats and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) was leading in eight seats.

The Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) were leading in two and four Assembly constituencies respectively.

Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal is leading in five Assembly seats. The Jansatta Dal Loktantrik is leading in two seats, Janata Dal (United) in one, Jansatta Dal Loktantrik in two and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party in three.

Early vote share percentages showed — BJP has 42.38 per cent of votes counted, SP 31.64 per cent, RLD 3.37 per cent, BSP 12.77 per cent and Congress 2.47 per cent.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was leading from Gorakhpur Urban seat and deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya was trailing from Sirathu.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was leading from the Karhal Assembly constituency. Minister in Uttar Pradesh government Srikant Sharma was leading from Mathura.

Swami Prasad Maurya, who joined the SP before the elections, was trailing from Fazilnagar.

In Varanasi South in which Kashi Vishwanath Temple is situated, SP’s Kameshwar alias Kishan Dixit was trailing and minister in Yogi government Dr. Neelkanth Tiwari was leading.

Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar was leading from Zahoorabad.

ALSO READ: ‘UP mein Baba’: BJP begins celebrations