Panellists discussed how cities can boost skills and create more jobs at the Lucknow edition of IE Thinc: CITIES series, presented by The Indian Express with Omidyar Network India. The session was moderated by Udit Misra, Associate Editor Amrit Abhijat: At 22 per cent, Uttar Pradesh’s urban growth rate is below the national average of 35 per cent. However, cities like Lucknow, Agra and Gorakhpur are growing rapidly, with 1,417 urban centres seeing growth at or above the national level. Since 2014, investments from the Central and state governments have exceeded Rs 40,000 crore — six times the budget from  before — with a 400 per cent rise in state funding for urban development. Key initiatives include the Swachh Bharat Mission, addressing legacy waste, door-to-door waste collection, and sanitation improvements. Notably, nine lakh toilets were constructed between 2019 and 2024, with 1.5 lakh built for Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Enhanced stormwater drainage systems, tree plantations and solid waste management plants combat environmental challenges and groundwater pollution. Health and sanitation efforts have significantly reduced diseases like Japanese encephalitis in …