UP a great state, often underplayed: Ratan Tata
LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh gover nment and t he Tata Trusts on Monday signed a multi-dimensional agreement for partnership in community development - malnutrition, mother and child health and solar energy sectors.
Speaking on the occasion, leading industrialist and chairman Tata Trusts Ratan Tata said he was losing his heart to the state that was doing great things but was “often underplayed and misunderstood.”
Chief secretary Alok Ranjan and executive trustee Tata Trusts R Venkatraman signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the presence of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Ratan Tata at the chief minister’s official residence here.
Tata called the MoU an understanding to support the state’s nutrition project and lauded the chief minister for his dynamism and work style. “If there is anything we can do to help you build the state, I will dedicate my time, effort and energy,” he said.
The chief minister on his part said Uttar Pradesh was the largest state in the country in terms of population, however, it was not seen the way it should be seen. “We are not asking you for anything. But you should keep on visiting UP and bless us,” he said.
Tata said he was here as a friend of both the chief minister and the state. “I am a friend of you and your state -- it’s a great privilege, a pleasure for us to be here and be looking at UP, which is a new UP. This is a state which is often underplayed and misunderstood,” said Tata.
Tat a hoped that Uttar Pradesh would make its mark and emerge as a leader in the country. “It (UP) is going to lead the way in many ways,” he said.
PENSION SCHEME On the occasion, Yadav also said, “If budget permits we will cover all eligible women under the Samajwadi Pension Scheme in 2016-2017.”
He said the people wanted a change in their lives and the state government’s MoU with the Tata Trusts would bring about that in their living condition.
Yadav said the Samajwadi Party government was working for every section of the society. “Working for a change in the lives of the people living in villages was a priority for the state government while bringing about development and prosperity in urban areas. Whatever we are doing it is being done with the state’s own resources,” he said while listing the construction of Agra-Lucknow expressway, 102 and 108 services etc as some of his government’s ambitious schemes.
Referring to the recent visit of Ratan Tata to Unnao, the chief minister said Tata had boosted the morale of Arunima Sinha, the first female amputee to climb Mt Everest. “With this you also boosted the morale of all those who want to take the path of progress,” Yadav said.