Uttar Pradesh in 2021: Time to unleash full potential
The year 2021 will be a year to turn opportunities into definitive outputs. Uttar Pradesh is treading upwards on the development front and now is the time to move from incremental to ‘transformational’ changes. The focus on enhancing ‘ease of doing business’, completion of large scale infra projects and economic growth is a welcome sign. It needs to continue with greater efficacy in 2021. The increase in private investments and execution of innovative financial instruments like municipal bonds etc. is going to further intensify in 2021 and would provide monetary strength to important urban and semi-urban projects in complementation to the ongoing schemes of the state and centre.
A major focal area has to be the ‘green agenda’. Special programmes on conservation of natural resources and habitats, emission reduction, pollution control measures, conserving ground water and wetlands, promoting renewable energy, ecotourism, sustainable agriculture/farming practices and addressing the livelihoods of people need to be taken up at a landscape level (involving urban/semi-urban/rural/forested habitats). As we recuperate from the Covid-induced slump this year, 2021 brings a great opportunity for investing into a sustainable future, giving us cleaner, greener, healthier and self-sufficient (atma-nirbhar) spaces around us, which can make UP a model for well-being not only in India, but across the globe. Given the unique geography and diversity of the state and its tremendous natural and human resources, partnerships with international financial institutions (IFIS) and similar agencies on the green agenda can be institutionalized.
It is time to invest in the citizens’ portfolio and the digitization age is helping the administration in reaching out to people and bringing in transparency, while bridging the gap between demand and service on the ground. There is need for an influx of professionally skilled and specialized manpower across all sectors. With more technology aids, better knowledge sharing and capacity, the impetus in 2021 has to be on revamping the governance systems, providing better health facilities and strengthening skill-oriented education leading to enhanced employability. Initiation of several big ticket projects like the Noida international airport, multiple expressways, new public transport systems and commercial/ industrial corridors in the state may help in the revival of the real-estate sector.
Time has proven that jobs don’t only exist on the desk and employment opportunities need to be created in close consultation with stateof-the-art business minds and service sector experts. The competitive advantage and uniqueness of major districts in the state should be fully utilized to chart the development trajectory. Uttar Pradesh in 2021 should look towards unleashing its full potential, while paving the way for a growth story that is both ‘transformational’ and ‘sustainable’.
UP IN 2021 SHOULD LOOK TOWARDS UNLEASHING ITS FULL POTENTIAL, WHILE PAVING THE WAY FOR A GROWTH STORY THAT IS BOTH ‘TRANSFORMATIONAL’ AND ‘SUSTAINABLE’.