"Our govt has promoted innovation among youth across country": Rajnath Singh

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that in earlier times, it was common for youth to migrate from villages in search of employment, but today the youth has become job provider rather than a job seeker.

Addressing 'Lucknow "Kaushal mahotsav" rozgar mela here today, Rajnath Singh said that in the last 9 years, the Government of India has given more than Rs. 23 lakh crores to the youth of the country under the Mudra Scheme.

"We are fully committed to the development of all youth, irrespective of caste, religion, and race, and to providing them with full employment opportunities. There was a time when employment meant that one had to leave home and go somewhere far away. I have also seen those times in Uttar Pradesh when entire villages used to become vacant in the name of employment. It was common for youth to migrate from villages," he said.

Emphasizing that going to other States in search of employment is not wrong but becoming a rolling stone for job or leaving your home in search of employment is not a good thing.

"Our government has understood this problem and has also worked for it. Farmers and youth have always been our priorities. We want that if the youth is from Uttar Pradesh, then he should get employment here," he added.

Further, hitting out at previous governments, Rajnath Singh said that earlier governments considered the youth as mere job seekers, whereas our government considers them as job providers.

"We have promoted innovation among the youth of this country. To convert their innovative minds into wealth creation, we have started many schemes, like the Start-up Scheme, the Stand-Up Scheme, and the Mudra Scheme. In the last 9 years, the Government of India has given more than Rs. 23 lakh crores to the youth of the country under the Mudra Scheme. With the benefit of this, someone has started his own business, someone has bought a taxi. Through these schemes, we have tried to make the youth stand on their own feet," he said.

The Union Defence Minister asserted that for the first time,Prime Minister Modi has provided unlimited facilities to the youth of this country to expand their potential.

"Today, India has become a hub for startups. The number of start-ups in our country has exceeded 1,20,000," he said.