Marking the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on April 14, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath revealed that Uttar Pradesh’s ambitious “zero poverty” mission will bear Babasaheb Ambedkar’s name. The announcement was made at a programme organised at the Ambedkar Mahasabha campus in Lucknow, where the Chief Minister offered heartfelt tributes to the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and reiterated the state’s dedication to promoting social justice and improving the lives of the underprivileged.
CM Yogi Adityanath highlighted that Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most populous state, is taking pioneering steps to eliminate extreme poverty. “We are naming the zero poverty scheme after Babasaheb Ambedkar. It will reflect his ideals and commitment to social upliftment. Uttar Pradesh will set an example for the entire country in the journey toward eliminating poverty,” he stated.
The campaign aims to ensure that no eligible family is left out of government welfare schemes. Around 14 to 15 lakh families will be brought under the umbrella of all key welfare schemes through this integrated initiative. These benefits include access to land, housing, toilets, pensions, ration cards, and Ayushman Bharat health cards.
Yogi Adityanath also shared the government’s ongoing work with disadvantaged communities such as the Musahar, Vantangia, Tharu, Shahariya, Gond, and Kol. Over the past eight years, the state has provided these groups with essential resources including homes, sanitation, and healthcare. The zero poverty programme, he said, will continue this legacy of inclusive welfare.
“In every gram panchayat, around 20 to 25 families are still deprived of the key schemes. Our double-engine government will ensure that these gaps are filled,” the chief minister stated, reiterating his administration’s commitment to holistic development.
Speaking about Dr. Ambedkar’s enduring legacy, CM Yogi underscored the hardships Babasaheb faced and overcame. “Despite being born in a poor and oppressed family, he earned the highest degrees from prestigious institutions. His life was a mission to secure justice and rights for the marginalised, not for personal gain,” he noted.
He recalled how Babasaheb went abroad for higher education with the support of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad of Baroda and used his education to fight for the downtrodden. “Despite facing numerous personal humiliations, Ambedkar never let the dignity of the nation suffer. That’s what truly sets him apart. A free India pays its deepest respects to him,” said Adityanath.
The chief minister also credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for initiating steps to realise Dr. Ambedkar’s dream and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for expanding them at an unprecedented scale.
“In just 10 years, we have achieved what was once unimaginable. Today, 80 crore people receive free ration, 50 crore have Ayushman health coverage, 12 crore houses have toilets, and four crore families have received homes. These achievements reflect Babasaheb’s dream in action,” said Adityanath.
He added that over one crore Dalits and poor families have received property documents (Gharauni), and 56 lakh houses have been distributed so far.
The Chief Minister spoke about how the government is working to empower young people, especially those from Dalit and backward communities. He said that under the CM Yuva Udyami Scheme, around 30,000 young entrepreneurs have already received help in the form of interest-free loans, which means they don’t have to pay extra money as interest when they repay the loan. This scheme is meant to support them in starting or growing their businesses. This number is expected to cross one lakh in the upcoming year, helping create a new generation of empowered individuals from marginalised backgrounds.
In his address, CM Yogi took a sharp dig at the Opposition, especially the Congress and the Samajwadi Party. He alleged that these parties historically disrespected Dr. Ambedkar and even resisted efforts to build a memorial in his honour.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath strongly criticised previous governments for their disregard toward Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy. He recalled how earlier administrations, particularly the Samajwadi Party (SP), had actively opposed the construction of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s memorial in Delhi. Not only was the proposal consistently blocked, but there were also open threats from some quarters that the memorial would be demolished if it was ever built.
He emphasised how such actions reflected a deliberate attempt to erase or diminish Ambedkar’s contribution to the nation. However, contrasting that past with the present, Adityanath declared that the current government is working to restore the respect Ambedkar truly deserves. “Today,” he said with conviction, “the entire nation stands united in honoring Babasaheb. What was denied to him before is now being rightfully acknowledged.”
