Lucknow: Referring to the perception of Uttar Pradesh in the past, when workers from the state were humiliated in other parts of the country, and how the situation has changed now, Deputy Chief minister Brajesh Pathak said, “Migrants from UP who moved to other parts of the country in search of greener pastures were humiliated in metro cities. But under the BJP govt, UP has progressed so much that the general image of UP wallahs has improved by leaps and bounds.”Highlighting the economic progress achieved by the state in recent years at the TOI Conclave, Pathak said the BJP government had brought industrialisation to the state. “Without discrimination or bias, the double-engine government has worked in the interest of all regions and communities in UP over the past nine years,” he said.Pointing to the growing number of industrial clusters in the Bundelkhand and Purvanchal regions, Pathak said that, for the first time, serious efforts yielded results and people living in these two backward regions were now able to find jobs.As an example of the growing popularity of products manufactured in UP, Pathak cited items promoted under the One District One Product (ODOP) programme. “Under the SP govt, Rampur was famous for its knives. Everyone knew about the Rampuri chaku. Our govt changed the scenario, and now violins manufactured in Rampur are making an impression globally,” he said.The health minister said two other areas in which the state made significant progress were law and order and infrastructure. “Girls can step out of their homes without fear even around midnight. Traders can operate freely even in remote areas. Industrialists and businessmen do not have to worry about paying extortion money to local gundas and mafias,” he said.Similarly, UP has worked on upgrading its road network, increasing the number of airports and railway stations, and improving road transport services, bus stops, as well as the healthcare and education sectors. Pathak said that at present, 1.92 crore students are studying in govt schools in UP, an achievement that was not seen in the past.
