UP to form welfare board for nomadic tribes

Virendra Singh Rawat

For the composite development of the nomadic tribes, the Uttar Pradesh government will constitute a dedicate welfare board for the community.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced this decision at the Vimukt Jati Diwas celebration yesterday.

“Communities like Nat, Banjara, Bawariya, Sasi, Kanjad, Kalbeliya, Sapera and Jogi are brave tribes who fought as warriors during foreign invasions.” Yogi said.

He noted these tribes fought with indomitable courage against the Mughals and the British.

The CM said in 1871 the British enforced the Criminal Tribes Act and declared these communities as criminals by birth.

Even after independence, this stigma continued until 1952. With the efforts of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, on August 31, 1952, these communities were freed from this social tag.

inding pasture for livestock or traditional occupations.

However, a majority of such tribes are known to have settled at specific places and joined the mainstream of society.

“The Vimukt Jati Diwas reminds us of that historic moment when these communities understood the true meaning of freedom. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the last 11 years the central and state governments have been working with full sincerity for the welfare of Vimukt Jati and nomadic tribes," Yogi added.

He said several schemes have been implemented in the fields of education and housing for these tribes.

Jai Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya Schools are being operated in nine districts, and two residential Ashram-style schools have been started, while 101 residential schools are already running.

The UP government is providing facilities ranging from accommodation and food to uniforms for students there.

Apart from this, in 264 government hostels for Scheduled Castes, special facilities are being provided for children of Vimukt Jatis.

Citing the example of the Vantangiya community, the CM said his government gave them the status of revenue villages and the right to vote and also built houses, schools, and hospitals for them.

Similarly, schemes have been implemented for Musahar, Kol, Tharu, Gaur, Chero and Sahariya communities, while communities like Kumhar, Nishad and Rajbhar have also benefited from government schemes.

He said Vimukt Jati and nomadic tribes will also be given land leases and voting rights.

The CM said the youth from nomadic tribes have been selected in police recruitment, which is proof that the UP government is providing equal opportunities to all sections without discrimination.

Yogi targets poverty-free UP by 2027

Virendra Singh Rawat

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has set the target of making the state poverty-free by 2027.

In 10 months alone, the state government has identified 1.332 million of UP’s poorest families under the Zero Poverty Campaign.

Of these, more than 372,000 families are already receiving multi-dimensional benefits, underscoring the Yogi government’s commitment to uplifting the underprivileged.

Yogi first announced the campaign in his Independence Day address on August 15, 2024, and officially launched it on October 2, 2024.

The mission aims to ensure that no family is left deprived of basic needs or social security, with a target to identify at least 25 ultra-poor families in every Gram Panchayat.

Each family is being linked to housing, employment, healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities to secure long-term transformation under the drive.

As of August 2025, Azamgarh leads with 42,082 families identified, followed by Jaunpur (39,374), Sitapur (36,571), Hardoi (30,050), and Prayagraj (28,935).

Special drives with panchayats and voluntary organisations are accelerating outreach in these districts.

Yogi has emphasised that the campaign goes beyond financial aid, and seeks to eliminate poverty entirely by 2027.

Identified families are being integrated with flagship schemes such as PM Awas Yojana, Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, and MGNREGA, alongside support for education and women’s empowerment through self-help groups.

With data-driven tracking, close monitoring and grassroots transparency, the Zero Poverty Campaign is fast emerging as a transformative mission to make UP poverty-free, with active participation from society at large, an official said.

Yogi 2.0 to showcase ‘Made in UP’

Virendra Singh Rawat

Amid the tariff conundrum, the Uttar Pradesh government is bracing up to showcase ‘Made in UP’ and ‘Swadeshi’ themes at the forthcoming UP International Trade Show (UPITS).

The 5-day extravaganza will be hosted during September 25-26 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida with the overarching aim of giving the UP MSMEs a global marketing platform.

The UPITS has established itself as a powerful platform to showcase the state’s strength on the global trade map.

The success of the 2023 and 2024 editions has demonstrated that under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, UP is making a mark not only in the domestic market but also in international trade, a senior official said.

The third edition is expected to be even larger, with higher participation, greater investment opportunities, and record-breaking export prospects, he added.

Launched as a pilot project, the UPITS made an impressive debut in 2023 with over 2,000 exhibitors, 350 foreign buyers from 60 countries, nearly 300,000 visitors, and business volumes crossing Rs 1,000 crore.

The second edition in 2024 raised the bar further. With Vietnam as the partner country, UPITS hosted 2,122 exhibitors, 350 foreign buyers from 70 countries, and around half-million visitors.

Export orders worth more than Rs 2,200 crore were secured through B2B and B2C interactions, alongside direct exhibition sales exceeding Rs 40 crore.

 Notably, the top 20 entrepreneurs from districts including Meerut, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Mathura, and Greater Noida alone bagged export orders worth over Rs 630 crore.

Beyond trade figures, UPITS has also given global recognition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Vocal for Local’ initiatives.

The Yogi government’s policies on ODOP (One District One Product), startups, MSMEs, employment and export promotion have infused fresh momentum into the event.

Special strategies are being crafted for UPITS 2025, where along with traditional products, high-tech sectors are also expected to attract significant investment and export opportunities.

With its growing global footprint, the trade show is poised to further cement UP’s position as a leading hub for international business.