UP CM Yogi Adityanath. (Img: X)
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has highlighted women’s empowerment, improved law and order and economic growth as key pillars of the state’s transformation, asserting that the state has made significant progress over the past nine and a half years. On the occasion of Maha Navami, the final day of Shardiya Navratri, the chief minister offered prayers to Maa Siddhidatri and outlined the achievements of his government under the vision of Viksit Bharat, Viksit Uttar Pradesh.
In a social media post, Adityanath emphasised that women are playing a decisive role in the state’s progress and prosperity through their capabilities, determination and self-confidence. He linked women’s empowerment with broader development goals, highlighting the importance of women’s safety, dignity, financial independence and participation in the workforce.
The chief minister also invoked the traditional Sanskrit principle that divine blessings prevail where women are respected, connecting the cultural significance of Navratri with the government’s stated commitment to women-led development.
Reflecting on the period before 2017, Adityanath claimed that Uttar Pradesh had faced an atmosphere of unrest, communal riots and lawlessness that adversely affected development. He alleged that criminal networks, mafia groups and troublemakers exercised considerable influence, while disturbances frequently disrupted festivals and religious celebrations.
The chief minister also highlighted concerns about women's safety during the previous administration, claiming that some parents felt compelled to send their daughters outside the state in search of safer educational and employment opportunities.
According to Adityanath, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi subsequently adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards crime and criminal activity. He said stronger law enforcement and the establishment of the rule of law had helped transform Uttar Pradesh's public image, allowing festivals and religious celebrations to take place in a more secure environment.
The chief minister described this shift as an important part of the state’s broader development trajectory, arguing that improvements in public safety and women's security had contributed to Uttar Pradesh's emergence as a major economic growth engine.
Highlighting the state’s economic performance, Adityanath claimed that Uttar Pradesh’s gross state domestic product (GSDP), per capita income, state budget and female labour force participation had tripled over the past nine and a half years.
He also stated that the state had consistently maintained a revenue-surplus position and attracted investment proposals worth more than Rs 50 lakh crore. According to the chief minister, the number of large factories in Uttar Pradesh had increased from approximately 14,000 to 35,000, representing a rise of around two-and-a-half times.
The government has also attributed significant employment generation to industrial expansion and investment initiatives. Adityanath claimed that investments had helped create employment for more than 65 lakh young people, while the state’s Defence Industrial Corridor was strengthening India's domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.
The corridor is intended to attract defence manufacturers, suppliers and allied industries, supporting industrial investment, technology development and employment creation within the state.
Adityanath further highlighted infrastructure development, agricultural productivity and entrepreneurship as major components of Uttar Pradesh’s growth strategy.
According to the chief minister, Uttar Pradesh now accounts for 60% of the country’s total expressway network. The state’s expanding road infrastructure is intended to improve regional connectivity, reduce travel times, facilitate freight movement and strengthen links between industrial centres, agricultural markets and logistics hubs.
The chief minister also claimed that Uttar Pradesh’s agricultural growth rate had increased from 8% to 18%. Agriculture remains a major part of the state’s economy, making farm productivity, rural infrastructure, irrigation and market access important factors in its wider development agenda.
On employment and entrepreneurship, Adityanath said the government had provided nine and a half lakh government jobs through what he described as a fair and transparent recruitment process.
He also reported a substantial expansion in the state’s startup ecosystem, with the number of startups rising from 120 to more than 24,000. The government has positioned entrepreneurship promotion and business development as part of its efforts to generate employment beyond traditional government recruitment.
The chief minister also pointed to the revival of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, describing it as a significant source of employment and economic activity.
According to Adityanath, the revival of MSMEs has created more than three crore employment opportunities across the state. The sector includes small manufacturers, local businesses, traditional industries and service enterprises that support livelihoods across urban and rural Uttar Pradesh.
The government’s broader economic strategy focuses on attracting large-scale investments while strengthening smaller businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship and expanding employment opportunities for young people.
However, the figures cited by the chief minister are government claims and would require comparison with independently verified economic and employment data to assess the scale of the changes.
Reiterating his government's development agenda on Maha Navami, Adityanath said the objective of building an empowered female population was closely linked to the state’s prosperity.
Women’s participation in education, employment, entrepreneurship and public life remains an important indicator of inclusive economic development. The chief minister’s emphasis on female labour force participation also places women’s economic engagement within the broader framework of Uttar Pradesh’s growth ambitions.
The government has framed its development programme around the vision of Viksit Bharat, Viksit Uttar Pradesh, with a focus on infrastructure, industrial expansion, investment, job creation and social development.
Adityanath said the state government would continue working towards the goal of an empowered female population and a prosperous Uttar Pradesh. His Maha Navami message brought together the religious significance of Shardiya Navratri and the government’s stated priorities of women’s safety, economic self-reliance and long-term development.
