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Ajay Uprety
Ajay Uprety

LUCKNOW

ROUNDUP : Yogi's one month in office

PTI4_4_2017_000144B (File) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath | PTI

Yogi government announced a mass marriage plan for the poor girls of minority communities

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who completed one month in office on April 19, has been hogging the limelight for his decisions. There has been a number of decisions, which one may like or dislike, but can not ignore.

In his first cabinet meeting, Yogi waived off farmers’ loans up to Rs 36,359 crore, which would benefit around 21 million small and marginal farmers. This waiver was among the top promises in the BJP manifesto.

Chanchal Tiwari, a small farmer in Hulaskheda village, said, “Yogi government seems to be truly concerned about farmers. This loan waiver will help small farmers like us.”

To ensure 24x7 power supply by 2018 in the state, Yogi government recently signed an agreement with the Centre. The government has waived surcharge on electricity dues. Energy minister UP Srikant Sharma said, “This waiver would cost Rs 3500 crore to the government.”

Power was a major bone of contention between the BJP and the ruling SP government during assembly polls. To supply power to all, the Yogi government will have to spend a minimum Rs 10,000 crore.

A local businessman Sandeep Mathur said, “This is a welcome measure. In remote areas of the state, the power situation is chaotic. Promises of previous government to ensure 24-hour power supply proved hollow.”

Soon after taking charge, Yogi went ahead with a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses. The chief minister said, “Those who do their business in the ambit of law and those who procure licences by legal means to run these abattoirs will have no problems."

According to a rough estimate, 140 slaughterhouses and over 50,000 meat shops were illegally run. There are 25 lakh people associated with this industry directly or indirectly in UP. According to the All India Meat and Livestock Exporters’ Association, a ban on meat exports would cause a loss of about Rs 11,350 crores of revenue for the state per annum.

The CM also called setting up of ‘anti-Romeo squads’ across the state to pevent eve-teasing. Initial actions of this anti-Romeo squad created an outrage in the society. The move was attacked because of the way the anti-Romeo squads carried out vigilantism and penalised loitering men. CM Adityanath ordered guidelines to be framed and said that the police should not be inhuman while implementing it.

Because of his penchant for neatness, he made his officials to take an oath of cleanliness and honesty. “His government is doing the right things. You go to a government building and you will find spit and pan-stained walls. There is nothing wrong if he has banned pan masala and smoking in government offices," said Sharad Mehrotra, a resident of Lucknow.

As a relief to students and parents, the government adopted measures to check and regulate fees in private schools and colleges. It has ordered all schools and educational institutions to submit their fee structure to the administration.

Yogi, on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14), made it clear that the holidays given in the name of leaders and towering personalities will be done away with.

He said, “Some people will object to this decision, but so many holidays just hamper studies in schools. Moreover, a majority of the students are not even aware of the deeds of the leaders in whose name the holidays are given." Even SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav hailed Yogi’s move. He said, “He (Yogi) has taken a right decision. Because of holidays on the birthdays of these leaders, the students do not get to know about their personalities and works. Instead of holidays, the students should be told about these leaders on that day.”

For the welfare of minority community, Yogi's government announced a mass marriage plan for the poor girls of minority communities. This scheme will be implemented in coming three months. Muslim girls will largely benefit from this scheme.

State minister Mohsin Raza said, “Under the scheme the government will give Rs 20,000 to each married couple and will bear entire expenses of the marriage.”

To improve healthcare system in the state, his government has rolled out 150 hi-tech ambulances to deal with emergencies like heart stroke, respiratory failure and other aliments for which patients require immediate assistance.

The government has started reviewing and investigating various schemes introduced by the previous SP government. The Yogi also cracked down on VIP culture and directed his ministers not to use the red beacons atop vehicles and asked all the ministers in his cabinet to provide details of their income and assets. Cabinet minister Srikant Sharma said, “quelling corruption is the main agenda of our party. The CM has clearly directed his ministers to give details of their income, moveable and immoveable properties within 15 days.”

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