Lucknow, Sep 16 – The ‘Samarth Uttar Pradesh – Viksit Uttar Pradesh @2047’ initiative launched by the state government is witnessing significant public engagement, with nearly 200,000 feedback entries submitted through a dedicated online portal, as reported by officials.

As of Tuesday, nodal officers and experts have conducted visits across all 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh, interacting with a diverse group of stakeholders including students, teachers, business owners, entrepreneurs, farmers, NGOs, labor groups, media representatives, and the general public.

The discussions have focused on the state’s developmental progress over the past eight years and outlined future plans, according to the officials. The government portal, samarthuttarpradesh.up.gov.in, has recorded approximately 200,000 feedback entries to date.

Of these entries, around 135,000 originated from rural regions, while approximately 65,000 came from urban areas. In terms of demographics, about 75,000 suggestions were submitted by individuals under the age of 31, over 100,000 by those aged between 31 and 60, and more than 25,000 by seniors above 60 years.

Education emerged as a primary concern, with over 70,000 suggestions related to this sector. Other significant areas of feedback included urban and rural development (approximately 40,000 suggestions), health (over 15,000), social welfare (around 16,000), and agriculture (more than 27,000).

The highest levels of participation were noted in the districts of Deoria, Kanpur Dehat, Hardoi, Jaunpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Maharajganj, Pratapgarh, and Gorakhpur, collectively contributing over 69,670 feedback entries, indicating strong community involvement.

Notable suggestions included proposals from Chitra Parikh and Sachin Bhardwaj of Agra, advocating for reforms in the social welfare sector. Their recommendations included establishing graduation as the minimum educational qualification for MLAs, ensuring 50% women’s representation in cow shelter committees, and enhancing hostel facilities with cleanliness, nutritious food, medical amenities, and adequate sports infrastructure.

Kunwar Urjaswit Singh from Lucknow proposed the creation of a data center grid throughout Uttar Pradesh and the development of a fintech and analytics hub in Lucknow to enhance the state’s global service capabilities and data security. He also suggested implementing AI co-pilots and integrated citizen portals for improved local governance and real-time decision-making.

In addition, Singh called for the formulation of a space-tech policy and the establishment of advanced educational and research institutions to foster self-reliance in defense-related space technology.

Other feedback addressed challenges faced by farmers, particularly regarding the adulteration of cattle feed by some producers, which poses risks to animal health. A proposed solution included the development of a scanner app to verify feed quality and assess animal health, breed, and milk yield.

Furthermore, suggestions were made to include farmers engaged in animal husbandry, fisheries, and beekeeping under insurance schemes, as beekeepers often experience hive theft and fish farmers face risks of pond poisoning or theft by miscreants.