Etawah (UP), (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday directed to increase the Credit Deposit (CD) ratio from 67 percent to 70 percent in the next financial year 2025-26 and emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to achieve this goal.
During a review meeting attended by senior government officials and representatives from the Bankers Committee to assess the Credit Deposit Ratio (CD Ratio) and the progress of the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan, the CM set a target to increase the CD ratio to 70 percent in the next fiscal.
Highlighting the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan, he stressed that UP’s youth possess the vision and innovation needed to drive progress. He reiterated that with banking sector support, the state government is actively providing capital to young entrepreneurs, enabling them to contribute to the development of a New UP in a New India.
He also directed that proper training be provided to all youth joining the campaign. The Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan, launched on January 24 (UP Diwas), aims to unlock the vast potential of UP’s youth, the largest youth population in the country.
The initiative targets at least one lakh skill-trained youth annually, connecting them to self-employment opportunities. Through this campaign, one lakh new units will be set up in the product and service sectors.
In the first phase, each beneficiary youth is being provided an interest-free loan of up to Rs 5 lakh, while in the second phase, the amount will be increased to Rs 10 lakh. Within just one month, the scheme has received approximately 2.5 lakh registrations, of which over 93,000 applications have already been sent to banks.
Yogi directed banks to accelerate the loan disbursement process for beneficiaries of the Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan. He directed that each bank branch in every district should be assigned specific targets to ensure swift implementation.
“Priority should be given to youth engaged in traditional occupations while also extending support to entrepreneurs across various sectors,” he said.
He emphasised that bank loans will not only empower youth towards self-reliance but also contribute to the growth of the banking sector.
“To facilitate access, loan distribution camps should be organised across all 18 divisions of the state,” he said.
The CM stressed that youth should receive financial support in fields where they have undergone training, ensuring effective utilisation of funds. He also highlighted the need for pre-screening applicants before submitting loan requests to banks to streamline the process.
Besides, the state government will extend support by integrating young entrepreneurs with marketing, designing, packaging, and technology to enhance their business prospects.
Recognising UP as a major market, he said that this initiative will encourage youth entrepreneurship and play a crucial role in employment generation. He also directed that women, SC/ST communities, and Divyang (persons with disabilities) be actively included in the scheme to promote inclusive growth.
Highlighting the state’s rising investment potential, Yogi said that UP has emerged as a prime investment destination.
“The government’s efforts through initiatives such as One District-One Product (ODOP) Scheme, Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, PM Vishwakarma Yojana, and PM SVANidhi Yojana have successfully promoted artisans, handicrafts men and small businesses, fostering trade and economic growth across all districts,” he said.
He highlighted the significant role of the MSME sector in boosting UP’s exports. He said that the state is exporting brass products worth Rs 15,000-16,000 crore from Moradabad, carpets worth Rs 12,000-14,000 crore from Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Bhadohi and glass items worth Rs 4,000-5,000 crore from Firozabad.
To further strengthen employment opportunities, the CM directed that employment fairs be organised regularly by the concerned departments.
“Special employment fairs should be conducted in March-April in 20 to 25 districts that lag behind in CD Ratio. These fairs should involve various companies, and employment certificates should be distributed to youth. Additionally, all banks must ensure that the commission payments for BC Sakhis, who facilitate banking services in rural areas, are processed on time,” he said.
He appreciated the commendable contribution of the banking sector in ensuring the success of Maha Kumbh.
“Various banks set up temporary branches in the fair area, installed ATMs, mobile ATMs, and coin vending machines and actively promoted digital payments among devotees,” he said.
To enhance coordination and financial outreach, he directed that meetings of the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) be conducted every two to three months under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, with monthly meetings at the district level.
Yogi was informed that UP’s total banking business has seen substantial growth, increasing from Rs 12.80 lakh crore in March 2017 to Rs 29.67 lakh crore in December 2024. Loan disbursements in the state also witnessed a sharp rise, with Rs 4.05 lakh crore in loans sanctioned by banks till March 2017, which further increased by 1.4 lakh crore by December 2024.
