Uttar Pradesh wins Ratan Tata’s heart (and big bucks from the Tata Trust)

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Uttar Pradesh wins Ratan Tata’s heart (and big bucks from the Tata Trust)
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Ratan Tata, the chairman emeritus of the Tata Group has some great things to say about Uttar Pradesh and its government. In an interaction with the media on Monday in Lucknow, Tata stated that he was "losing his heart to this state".

The businessman cum philanthropist was in the state capital to witness the signing of what has been a long-term understanding between the UP government and Tata Trusts for combined philanthropic efforts in the areas of nutrition, primary education and agriculture.

Tata has promised to offer unconditional help to build Uttar Pradesh into a new city. "If there's anything we can do together to help you build this state, I will dedicate whatever time, effort or energies, personally, that it will take of me. I admire the fact you are doing great things. And I think you should consider that I am a friend of you, and your state," he was quoted saying.

Thrashing the usual conceptions about the state, Tata stated that UP is often "misunderstood and underplayed", and that it will "take its place in the country and lead the way, in many ways".

The multi-dimensional MoU was signed by UP chief secretary Alok Ranjan, and the CEO of Tata Trusts, R Venkatraman. The signing saw some august company in the form of state CM Akhilesh Yadav and Ratan Tata himself.
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As per Venkatraman, Tata Trusts will be primarily supporting UP on four programmes, namely anaemia control interventions, strengthening maternal and child health, children's education through infusion of technology and life skills training, and solar energy.

CM Akhilesh Yadav stated that he was grateful for Tata's visit to the state, and promised to help Tata Trusts in every way possible. "We, in the government of UP, ask for nothing but your presence in UP. That, itself, should galvanise us, and bring about winds of change in UP," Akhilesh added.

As per the MoU, Tata Trusts will be extending its support to the UP government in running poverty alleviation programmes, for employment generation, and in increasing income and infrastructure development for its citizens.

All work would be monitored and overseen by a joint state-level steering committee that would comprise of representatives of both the state government and the Tata Trusts.

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