UP govt ropes in retired officials to reach out to youth

The UP government is roping in retired civil services personnel to educate literate young about the state's plans and policies to attract investment and union and state youth welfare programmes.

The state's 'Groundbreaking Ceremony' on February 19-21 will unveil investment proposals of about ₹10 lakh crore from the ₹40 lakh crore received during the investment summit last year. PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ceremony. The primary purpose is to inform youth of potential employment prospects associated with the investments, but a special team of retired government officials will actively campaign to reach out to youngsters before the general elections.

This special team consists of 12 retired IAS officers, 4 retired Indian Police Services officers, 7 retired Indian Forest Services officers and 19 senior educationists. The officers will hold discussions with students in universities and other educational institutions over February 17 and 18. They will also answer queries regarding any government schemes targeted towards their welfare, the government said in a release.


"Your interaction with the youth in universities and other educational institutions before the organization of GBC@IV is crucial. During these discussions, kindly provide information about the plans to attract large capital investment in the state through various policies issued by the Uttar Pradesh government. Familiarize them with the schemes run by the Indian Government and the State Government for the welfare of the youth," CM Yogi told the team of officers on Friday.

Heading towards elections, there is significant focus on the first time voters of aged between 18 and 19 years.

In its budget earlier this month, UP had also launched a scheme, CM-YUVA, to provide interest-free loans to micro-entrepreneurs for capital cost of up to ₹5 lakh.