Lucknow, Dec 7 : In a bid to uplift the Dalits, backward and underprivileged sections in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath vigorously implemented the 'Stand-up India Scheme' and today the state stands first in its implementation in the country. According to the government spokesman, the Chief Minister has instructed every bank to provide loans to at least one SC/ST and one women entrepreneur through the scheme. This initiative has benefitted 36,000 SC/ST and women entrepreneurs of the state. The spokesman said that till June 2020, loans worth Rs 2,386 crore have been approved on 11,789 applications and an amount of Rs 1,256 crores has also been released. With this scheme, young entrepreneurs are not only realizing their dreams but also changing the image of the state, said the official. Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, Agra, Varanasi, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Gautam Buddha Nagar, and Bareilly are among the top ten districts in the state under the Stand-up India scheme. The highest amount of Rs 195 crore has been approved against 939 applications in Lucknow and Rs 117 crore has already been released. Under the Stand-up India scheme launched by the Central government in 2016, loans ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs one crore are given at concession rates to businessmen belonging to the SC/ST, Backward Classes, and women. Income tax exemption is also allowed for the first three years from the commencement of business. This is followed by an interest rate of three per cent with the base rate, which cannot exceed the tenure premium. To repay this debt, a time of seven years is given to the person. /IANS