Lucknow: Cooperation is the bedrock of development. A similarity of objectives and a unison of thought can really do wonders when it comes to transforming a state. There is no better example of this notion than in the extraordinary transformation of Uttar Pradesh in the last four years and a-half.
The convergence of purpose between the State Government headed by the forward-looking Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Centre under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is the ideal metaphor for what is commonly termed as ‘double engine’ governance. It is substantiated by the quantum of Central assistance the state government has received over the last four and a half years ensuring effective implementation of the developmental schemes. This has been in a sharp contrast to previous government which created hurdles and showed inefficiency in the implementation of welfare schemes.
The Modi government at the Centre has given as much as over Rs 201584 crore to the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh from 2017-18 till August 31, 2021 as compared to just Rs 136832.63 crore received during the last regime in the state from 2012-13 to 2016-17. In fact, during the previous government, the Central government headed by Congress-led UPA released Rs 17337.78 crore in 2012-13 and about Rs 22405.16 crore in 2013-14.
Ever since the Modi government came into power at the Centre, the state assistance rose substantially to Rs 32691.47 crore in 2014-15, Rs 31861.33 crore in 2015-16 and Rs 32536.86 in 2016-17 which also underlines the fact that no discrimination was done in this regard.
The development of Uttar Pradesh gained momentum only when the ‘double engine’ government in UP was well supported by the Central government which paid rich dividends. The Centre sent funds for the development to the tune of Rs 40648.44 crore in 2017-18, Rs 42988.48 crore in 2018-19, Rs 44043.96 crore, Rs 57487.59 crore in 2020-21 and over Rs 16415.61 crore in 2021-22 till August 31,21.
As a matter of fact, the benefits of ‘double engine’ government started being felt only after the Yogi government readjusted the focus of development activities after taking over the reign in March 2017. With this congruence, the state received all support of the Central government, for the first time in decades. The progress of UP went northwards largely because of these combined efforts. Having one voice of development is like the synchronised sound of two engines pulling a long and hitherto slow-moving train to a superfast speed.
Time and again, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken about the benefits of ‘double engine’ government, the most recent being his address in Aligarh on Tuesday last.
No wonder, Uttar Pradesh reached the top position in effective implementation of about 90 percent of the Central schemes including PM Awas Yojana, PM Employment Generation Programme, job creation in MSME units, Ujjawala Scheme, Saubhagya Scheme, Construction of personal toilets and Smart Cities Award 2020 etc.
This is in the sharp contrast to the recurring phases of discord the previous regimes in UP had in the ten years prior to 2017 with the Centre. Several development schemes were impeded and implementation of welfare schemes of the Centre was resisted, thus denying the people of UP the benefits of such schemes.
