- Urban Fellowship Program to help 100 backward urban local bodies of UP join mainstream of development
By Our Correspondent
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath started the training of the selected fellows under Chief Minister’s Urban Fellowship Program on Saturday to accelerate development of 100 underdeveloped urban local bodies of the state on the lines of aspirational districts. Urban Development Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma inaugurated the training program for CM Urban Fellows under the Aspirational City Scheme at an event organized by the Urban Bodies Directorate.
As per the intention of CM Yogi, these fellows will help in bringing these backward local bodies into the mainstream of development. After receiving training, they will be deployed in the selected backward urban local bodies.
It is noteworthy that the Chief Minister’s Urban Fellowship Program was launched for the development of backward urban local bodies through enhanced urban planning, creation of basic infrastructure, economic development, and offering livelihood opportunities to the people. Over 1 lakh applications were received for the position of CM Fellow, and interviews were conducted with 446 applicants based on merit by January 31. The selection process for 100 CM Fellows was completed on February 12.
Aspirational city planning portal and guidelines launched
The Urban Development Minister Arvind Kumar launched the Aspirational City Planning Portal and released the guidelines related to the Aspirational City Plan on the occasion. He also provided guidance to the selected CM Fellows.
He emphasized that the Aspirational City Plan is an ambitious initiative of the Uttar Pradesh government aimed at developing 100 urban bodies as aspirational cities through basic infrastructure development, improvement in education and health facilities, and creation of employment opportunities. He urged the fellows to make their best efforts to achieve this goal.
Describing it as a significant undertaking rather than a mere job to motivate the fellows, Minister AK Sharma stated that the initiative would not only benefit Uttar Pradesh, but also serve as an inspiring model for the entire country.
100 urban bodies of 38 districts in aspirational category
These fellows will not only explore the possibilities of development through 32 indicators determined in 100 backward urban bodies with a population ranging from 20 thousand to 1 lakh, but will also present their research report to the government.
The Yogi government has placed 100 urban local bodies in the aspirational category across 38 districts of the state. This includes 5 in Aligarh, 1 in Etah, 1 in Hathras, 1 in Kasganj, 2 in Ayodhya, 1 in Ambedkar Nagar, 1 in Barabanki, 1 in Sultanpur, 2 in Azamgarh, 3 in Ballia, 2 in Mau, 2 in Shahjahanpur, 9 in Basti, 3 in Sant Kabir Nagar, 4 in Siddharthnagar, 1 in Banda, 4 in Bahraich, 1 in Balrampur, 3 in Gonda, 6 in Deoria, 2 in Gorakhpur, 5 in Kushinagar, 4 in Maharajganj, 2 in Farrukhabad, 2 in Kanpur Dehat, 2 in Lakhimpur Kheri, 2 in Lucknow, 1 in Raebareli, 2 in Unnao, 1 in Bulandshahr, 2 in Sonbhadra, 1 in Moradabad, 3 in Rampur, 3 in Fatehpur, 2 in Kaushambi, 10 in Pratapgarh, 1 in Prayagraj, and 2 in Jaunpur, all classified under the aspirational urban local bodies category.
