Improve work culture: Akhilesh's terse message to officials

Warns of strict action against officials for showing laxity in clearing industrial and investment proposals within a fixed time frame

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav today issued a terse message to officials to improve their work culture lest they face music.

He has warned of strict action against officials for showing laxity in clearing industrial and investment proposals within a fixed time frame.

The CM’s plain talk came in the context of creating a more conducive investor-friendly environment in the state amid perception of lukewarm response from industry and investors thus far under his dispensation.

Yadav was addressing a mega Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) conclave organised by Indian Industries Association (IIA) here. He assured industry that his government had taken firm steps to attract investment and industries.

He directed officials to implement the various industry-oriented policies, so that the business community faced no difficulty.

UP is targetting to grow at 8.5% during the current 12th Plan, attracting composite investment of about Rs 16.70 lakh crore. The state is aiming to achieve industrial and services growth rates of 7.1% and 10.9% respectively.

“During meetings, the industry representatives from USA and several other countries have evinced interest in investing in UP. This amply shows their confidence in the business friendly environment here,” he underlined.

Without taking names, Yadav decried the media blitzkrieg by some states to amplify their actual work on the ground.

He said while UP had framed policies to attract new industries, the existing industries had been accorded priority and state already excelled in several areas, such as wheat, dairy, sugarcane etc.

Yadav reminded that majority of districts in UP were distinct hubs of cottage or small industries of repute and said the government was aiming to support such craft, so that they could be marketed internationally.

UP is home to almost 3.1 million MSMEs, the largest number compared to any other state in India. The sector contributes about 50% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of UP and supports 40 million people, thus playing an important role in its socio-economic development.