Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that those playing with the future of the youth in Uttar Pradesh would rot in jail for the rest of their lives while the properties of their parents and grandparents would be confiscated. 

The chief minister was addressing students at the Rajkiya Jubilee Inter College grounds during a smartphone/tablet distribution event. He said not only the cities of Uttar Pradesh would be smart, but also the youth of the state with smartphones and smart classes.

In the programme, 1,500 students were provided with tablets and 3,000 students received smartphones.

The chief minister personally handed tablets to 15 students and smartphones to 10 students.

On this occasion, the chief minister also laid the foundation stone of Project Alankar worth Rs 17.35 crore in 26 secondary schools and 330 premium smart classrooms to be built at a cost of Rs 7.58 crore in 141 secondary schools. He also handed over the Smart Class Certificate to the principals of four intermediate colleges.

Chief Minister CM Yogi said that with the introduction of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme in November 2021, the distribution of smartphones and tablets commenced.

The objective is to digitally empower the youth, ensuring that their education remains uninterrupted in potential future pandemics such as COVID-19, he added.

The chief minister said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when physical education came to a halt, Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisioned fostering connections through technology. 

“In alignment with his vision, Uttar Pradesh has already distributed smartphones and tablets to 20 lakh youths without discrimination and has set the target to give it to two crore youths across the state,” he added.

Chief Minister Yogi said that the schemes of the Central and state governments that were essential for the future and self-reliance of the youth had also been added to these devices.

“Empowered with technology, the youth will forge ahead and contribute to realising the vision of a developed India,” he added.

The chief minister urged the youth to take the pledge to make UP a leader in Digital India and utilise smartphones to learn about educational programmes and government schemes.

The chief minister said that Project Alankar had been initiated to strengthen the infrastructure of dilapidated secondary schools.

In Project Alankar, the government provides 100 per cent funding for government schools and 75 per cent for aided non-government schools, while the school management has to contribute the remaining 25 per cent. Sanskrit schools receive 90 per cent funding from the government under this initiative. 

Chief Minister Yogi also emphasised the importance of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in schools.

Under Project Alankar, work will be carried out in 69 schools in the Gorakhpur division.

The chief minister discussed the Premium Smart Class for secondary schools, stating that funds are being allocated from the corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund for this purpose. 

Smart classes can be made more useful by connecting them with digital libraries. He urged teachers and students to make use of the smart class, as the whole world is getting connected with it. The company installing it will provide free services for some time, he informed.

"In the new Uttar Pradesh of New India, education is undergoing a transformation in line with the National Education Policy, with the government aligning infrastructure accordingly. It is our firm commitment that the youth of UP will stand shoulder to shoulder with their global counterparts. To support youth preparing for competitive exams, the government has facilitated Abhyuday coaching in every district," Chief Minister Yogi added.

Asserting the country has changed today, Chief Minister Yogi said, Prior to 2014, there was little discourse on topics like youth, faith, prosperity and security. Now, we witness enhanced security, prosperity, and the assurance that earning a livelihood also garners respect. Presently, our nation boasts the fifth-largest economy in the world."

Raising the slogan of ‘Phir ek baar Modi Sarkar’, Chief Minister Yogi said that forming the Modi government for the third time would lead the country to become the world's third-largest economy. The goal is to develop every individual and entire India, he added.

During the programme, MP Ravi Kishan Shukla, Additional Chief Secretary (Secondary Education) Deepak Kumar, Mayor Dr Mangelesh Shrivastav, MLAs Vipin Singh, Pradeep Shukla, Bharatiya Janata Party district president Yudhishthir Singh, metropolitan president Rajesh Gupta, Jyoti Prakash Maskara, and others were present.