Will Create Jobs For All Migrants In UP: Yogi

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is confident of providing employment to 15 lakh migrant workers returning to Uttar Pradesh and tells Namita Bajpai that his government’s policies will encourage these labourers to now work in the state and contribute to its economy

After more than a month of lockdown, where do you see UP? How much has the state been able to contain the Covid-19 spread?

Uttar Pradesh is giving a tough fight to the pandemic. Despite being the largest state in the county in terms of population, the situation in UP is very much under control because of the decisive and tough measures taken by the state government in past one month. I thank PM Narendra Modi who took timely steps for the wellbeing of 135 crore people of India and sounded alert in the first week of March. On getting instructions from Modiji, I prepared a concrete action plan in UP along with my ministers. We set up 11 different teams to fight the battle on every front. I personally interact with these 11 teams comprising senior officials on a daily basis to ensure strict implementation of the action plan.

Health services have been given a boost in the last one month. Lockdown and social distancing were enforced strictly. Hotspots were identified and sealed completely. The borders were also sealed. As a result, we have been able to keep the situation under control to a large extent. We also want the cooperation of all of you.

You are bringing back about 5-10 lakh migrant workers of UP stranded in other parts of the country and almost as much had already arrived at the start of lockdown. What about their livelihood?