UP govt approves free smartphones, new medical colleges, ITI upgrades in major youth-centric push

In a major youth-centric push, the Uttar Pradesh government on Jan 22 approved important decisions in a cabinet meeting including buying 25 lakh smartphones for free distribution to youths. The meeting was led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from Prayagraj.

The Cabinet approved the selection of successful bidders to operate medical colleges in the public-private partnership (PPP) mode in Hathras, Kasganj, and Baghpat districts. This is part of the initiative to provide better healthcare and medical education in the underserved areas.

The Cabinet also agreed to transfer the 166-bed Government Combined Hospital in Balrampur to the Medical Education Department. This will facilitate the establishment of an Autonomous State Medical College in Balrampur, which will be affiliated with King George Medical University (KGMU).

"This step is taken to establish the Autonomous State Medical College, Balrampur, by converting the Balrampur satellite centre of King George Medical University (KGMU),", the statement said.

It will provide specialised health care and create scope for medical education amongst youths, along with which 1,394 new academic and non-academic posts will be created.

25 lakh smartphones

The Cabinet also approved the final bid document for the purchase of 25 lakh smartphones under the Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana. The goal is to empower youths technologically by distributing smartphones for free. The scheme will run for five years, with a budget of Rs 4,000 crore for the financial year 2024-25.

This innovative initiative will provide smartphones to skilled young people pursuing higher education, technical education, health education, skill development training, and ITI programmes so that they become technically empowered and future-ready," the statement said.

The Cabinet has sanctioned the identification of selected bidders for medical colleges under PPP in Viability Gap Funding with the Government of India. The selected colleges are to be set up in districts where there are no public or private medical colleges available, such as Hathras, Kasganj, and Baghpat.

"This step aligns with the state's policy to establish medical colleges in underserved districts through PPP mode, ensuring equitable access to medical education and healthcare facilities," the statement added.

The project would annually train about 12,500 candidates. This will be split between 6,000 candidates for long-term courses and 6,500 candidates for short-term courses. "The project aims to train around 12,500 candidates annually, with approximately 6,000 on long-term courses and 6,500 in short-term courses," the statement said.

The Cabinet also approved an agreement with Tata Technologies Limited (TTL) to upgrade 62 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and establish five Centres for Innovation, Invention, Incubation, and Training (CIIITs). This project will cost over ₹ 3,634 crores, of which TTL will contribute ₹ 2,851 crores, and the government will provide over ₹ 783 crores.