Lucknow, 09 June (HS): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on

Tuesday launched Project Ganga to bring high-speed broadband

connectivity to villages in Uttar Pradesh, boost digital inclusion, and create

self-employment opportunities for youth. The project will ensure last-mile

digital connectivity in rural areas, as well as expand digital education,

telemedicine, e-governance, skill development, and new technology-based

employment opportunities.

Under Project Ganga, a comprehensive network of Digital

Service Providers (DSPs) will be developed in the state. The goal is to provide

high-speed internet access to approximately 2 million households, create 8,000

to 10,000 digital service providers, and generate over 100,000 direct and

indirect employment opportunities. The project's first phase is being

implemented in 21 districts. On this occasion, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

stated that broadband connectivity has become a basic necessity in today's

times. The faster the internet speed, the faster the pace of development. He

added that Project Ganga is an important initiative towards realizing Prime

Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Digital India.

The Chief Minister said that just as the flow of Mother

Ganga from Gangotri to Gangasagar has been the foundation of development,

prosperity, and life for the areas along its path, Project Ganga will also

become a strong foundation for Uttar Pradesh's digital prosperity. This

initiative will create new possibilities for social and economic transformation

by bringing digital opportunities to villages. He said that in the last nine

years, through numerous technology-based initiatives, including e-Office,

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), BC Sakhi, and Gram Sachivalaya, the distance

between government and the public has been reduced in Uttar Pradesh. These

efforts have given new impetus to digital empowerment and made services easier

for ordinary citizens. Project Ganga is the next important phase in this

journey.

The Chief Minister stated that this project, which is being

launched in 21 districts in the first phase, will later expand to all 57,000

gram panchayats and approximately 8,000 judicial panchayats in the state. This

will realize the vision of last-mile digital connectivity, enabling villages to

develop into smart villages. He added that to promote digital empowerment in

the state, the goal was to develop 8,000 digital entrepreneurs. Project Ganga

will play a crucial role in achieving this goal. The government's goal is not

only to provide internet connectivity, but also to empower youth to become

self-reliant. This project will connect youth to the digital economy and

provide new opportunities for self-employment and entrepreneurship.

Congratulating the Hinduja Group for this initiative, the

Chief Minister said that the state government is providing interest-free loans

of up to Rs. 5 lakh to youth through the CM Yuva scheme. Selected

youth under Project Ganga will also be able to take advantage of this facility

and establish their own enterprises as digital service providers. Emphasizing

the importance of selection and training, the Chief Minister said that the

success of the project will depend on trained and competent digital service providers.

He directed that the selected youth be provided quality training in technical,

managerial, and business aspects so that they can develop an effective network

of digital services in their areas.

At the event, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said that

Project Ganga is an important initiative towards the overall development of

Uttar Pradesh. He emphasized that widespread access to technology forms the

foundation of social and economic transformation. Citing the example of mobile

phones, he said that technology has brought positive changes to the lives of

even those who were once isolated. Today, ordinary citizens are accessing

government schemes and connecting directly with the nation and the world

through digital means.

He expressed confidence that Project Ganga will further

accelerate this transformation by bringing digital services to every village.

Information Technology and Electronics Minister Sunil Kumar Sharma stated that

Project Ganga is not just a government program, but a strong foundation for

Uttar Pradesh's digital future. This initiative will open doors to new

opportunities for the state's youth, students, farmers, and entrepreneurs and

will be a catalyst for widespread change in the coming years. On behalf of the

Hinduja Group, Group President, Corporate Affairs, Sunil Kumar Chadha, stated

that this initiative is an important step towards realizing Prime Minister

Narendra Modi's Digital India vision at the grassroots level. He

noted that Uttar Pradesh is the first state in the country to adopt such an

innovative model. The Hinduja Group is collaborating on this project with a

no profit, no loss principle. He added that, in line with Chief

Minister Yogi Adityanath's vision, the project will ensure widespread

participation of women, with approximately 50 percent of the beneficiaries

being women.

Presenting the outline of Project Ganga, State

Transformation Commission Chairman Manoj Kumar Singh explained that it is not

merely a project to expand internet connectivity, but a new model of digital

entrepreneurship in rural Uttar Pradesh. Under this initiative, local youth

will be developed as Digital Service Providers (DSPs), who will establish fiber

broadband networks in their areas and provide digital services. He explained

that the project aims to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to

approximately 2 million families, create 8,000 to 10,000 digital service

providers, and create over 100,000 direct and indirect employment

opportunities.

He said that Project Ganga will provide digital education,

telemedicine, online skills training, e-governance, cybersecurity, public

Wi-Fi, smart agriculture, and new IT-based employment opportunities in rural

areas. Selected youth under the project will also be provided training,

technical support, network building, and business operations, enabling them to

establish sustainable digital enterprises in their areas.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi