U.P. CM Launches Bharat Taxi and Krishak Samriddhi Yojana

Why in News?

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched Bharat Taxi and the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana in the state. The two initiatives aim to provide greater social security to taxi and three-wheeler drivers and reduce the financial burden on farmers.

Bharat Taxi

Bharat Taxi is a cooperative-based taxi service aimed at supporting two-wheeler, taxi and three-wheeler drivers.

Under the initiative:

• Drivers can register with Bharat Taxi and operate under a zero-commission model.
• Registered drivers will receive social security cover of ₹5 lakh.
• The service has started in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Prayagraj.
• Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with institutions including Lucknow Airport, Lucknow Metro and Lucknow Police.

The initiative is intended to provide drivers with better income opportunities and social security while creating an organised transport service.

Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana

The Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana has been launched to provide farmers with loans at a lower interest rate through the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Gramya Vikas Bank.

Key Features

• The interest rate on loans for farmers has been reduced from 11% to 6%.
• The scheme provides arrangements for long-term loans.
• The loans are intended to help farmers meet their financial requirements for agriculture and farm machinery.
• The state government has set a target of extending the benefits of the scheme to 5 lakh small and marginal farmers in the coming years.

Government's Focus on Farmers and Cooperatives

• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the role of the cooperative sector in supporting farmers. He stated that after the formation of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, loans worth more than ₹36,000 crore were waived for 86 lakh small and marginal farmers, according to the state government's account.
• He also highlighted the completion of long-pending irrigation projects, including the Saryu Canal National Project.
• According to the Chief Minister, 16 cooperative banks in the state had become inactive before 2017. Of these, 15 have now returned to profit, while efforts are continuing to improve the remaining bank.
• Saryu Canal National Project 
• This Project is a major irrigation project in Uttar Pradesh aimed at providing irrigation facilities to farmers and improving agricultural productivity. 
• It involves linking several rivers and expanding irrigation coverage in the eastern part of the state.

Significance

• The two initiatives focus on different sections of the economy. Bharat Taxi seeks to strengthen the livelihood security of drivers, while Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana aims to improve access to affordable institutional credit for farmers.
• Lower interest rates can reduce the cost of borrowing for farmers and support investment in agricultural activities and machinery. 
• Similarly, social security for drivers can provide greater financial protection against economic uncertainties.

Conclusion

Bharat Taxi and Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana focus on improving livelihood and financial security for two important groups—transport workers and farmers. The initiatives also highlight the role of cooperative institutions in providing economic support and access to formal credit.

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