UP focuses on reforms, healthcare for $1 trn push | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Healthcare expansion, labour reforms and industry-led skills emerged as key pillars of UP’s growth strategy as the state sharpened its pitch towards becoming a trillion-dollar economy at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) UP annual session held in Lucknow on Tuesday.Senior govt officials and industry leaders outlined a coordinated roadmap that places human capital, regulatory ease and social infrastructure at the centre of economic transformation.Highlighting progress in the healthcare sector, additional chief secretary, medical health and family welfare, Amit Kumar Ghosh, pointed to the rapid expansion of coverage under Ayushman Bharat, with a significant rise in empanelled hospitals and outreach across districts. He said the govt is now focusing on strengthening last-mile access through health and wellness centres, while opening up avenues for private participation in hospital infrastructure and telemedicine, particularly in underserved regions.On the reforms front, principal secretary, labour and employment, MK Shanmuga Sundaram, underscored the state’s commitment to implementing the new labour codes, aimed at simplifying compliance and improving transparency. He said digitisation of labour services and faster dispute resolution mechanisms are being prioritised to strike a balance between worker welfare and ease of doing business.Officials also stressed the need to align workforce capabilities with emerging industry demands. Infrastructure and industrial development commissioner Deepak Kumar called for deeper industry engagement in skill development initiatives, urging companies to partner with the govt in training programmes that make youth job-ready. He said such collaboration would be critical in bridging skill gaps and supporting sectors poised for rapid expansion. The broader economic vision was anchored in leveraging global mega-trends, including advanced manufacturing, green energy and digital technologies. Manoj Kumar Singh, CEO of the state transformation commission, said the state is actively building policy and institutional frameworks to attract investments in these areas while fostering innovation-driven ecosystems.Industry representatives echoed the govt’s approach, emphasising that sustained collaboration would be key to maintaining momentum. CII (UP) chairperson Upasana Arora said the convergence of policy support, infrastructure development and industry participation is creating a strong foundation for inclusive growth.
