On the 18th, when Yogi was named the CM designate, a plethora of reactions came across all quarters. While some peddled fear, many did not know how to receive the news. But, there was a large segment of people on ground, who believed this may be a choice that could surprise coming up.
The first couple of weeks (Week 1 and Week 2) have seen unprecedented activities. It may be quite possible that no government in the past has shown this amount of activity, especially when beset by a tattered administrative inheritance.
It is still noteworthy, that the much awaited decision to waiver farmer loans has not happened while 14 days have passed. At the same time, the first cabinet meeting is still to be held. It is expected that the first meeting will be held very soon. It does appear though, that there is a lot of stress on getting the administrative machinery disciplined. Scams from previous administrations have surfaced.
There is a continuous effort on curbing corruption in selections to government positions, and zero tolerance on crime. It also appears that Purvanchal and Bundelkhand who have been the recipient of stepson treatment for decades, are beginning to be noticed. Yogi will also start reviewing department presentations and interestingly these presentations have been scheduled for 6 in the evening to minimize impact on daily work.
Here is how week 3 unfolded:
Day 15: Bio-metric attendance is enforced today in UP Housing and Development Board office.
State Transport Corporation is preparing a proposal to use software to allot driver and conductor duties. This is to prevent the vasooli of money from drivers and conductors in lieu of duty.
The CM is handling Law and Order situation on a war footing. UP-100 service is being upgraded and IIT Kanpur Computer Science Department has been engaged for this.
162 stenographers of the Commercial Tax department have been promoted. This task has been hanging around for a very long time.
Day 16: Yogi reviewed Basic Education Department presentation. The meeting continued till half an hour past midnight. Decisions were taken to the following effects:
- Basic Shiksha Seva Chayan Board will be constituted.
- By July, books, uniforms and bags will be made available to students.
- Fees of private schools will be closely monitored.
- Syllabus will be modernized.
- Improvement of cleanliness and sanitation facilities in schools.
- 1,760 Laboratories to be set up in schools.
- 45,809 schools to be electrified.
- Gas connections to reach 50,000 schools.
PWD has introduced E-Tenders starting today. Orders are also issued to not allow contractors with criminal records to participate in any tenders.
Samsung India leadership team met CM today. Assured of a 2,500 Crore rupee investment in the state and creation of 10,000 jobs by 2020. CM instructs Industrial Development Department of quickly formulating a new Industrial Policy.
UPERC has revived the work on prepaid electricity to slums and patri dukaandaars. Efforts had begun in 2014 but, there has been no progress so far. UPERC has asked for status from electricity companies.
‘Dengue Niyantran aur Swachhta Abhiyaan’ will now be brought under the MNREGA scheme. Instructions towards this have been issued by Health Minister.
Old Age pensions have been increased from Rs. 400 to Rs. 1000.
Rs. 10,000 Crore 1320 MW Power project in Khurja, Bulandshahr had been blocked on environmental permit for many years. Center gives clearance on the same. This project is expected to begin soon.
Nominations of 358 non-governmental officials in the Cane Development and Sugar Department have been cancelled. Positions will be filled up soon.
State Road Transport Corporation starts issuing permits for AC Janrath buses between Lucknow and Patna. The service is expected to start 7th of this month.
Day 17: First Cabinet Meeting of the Government was held today on Ram Navami in Lucknow. It was a pleasant departure for an official meeting to happen on a holiday.
In line with BJP Sankalp Patra on Farmer Loan waiver, loans up to Rs. 1 lakh for 87 Lakh farmers have been waived. The total burden on the state govt is to the tune of 36000 crores. To help with the waivers, state will introduce Kisaan Rahat Bonds.
Yogi has said that the burden will be borne by the government by preventing tax theft and eliminating any wasteful government expenditure. General citizenry will not be burdened. Following other decisions have been taken in the Cabinet meeting:
- Every Thana will have an Anti-Romeo Squad.
- Wheat farmers will be given an additional Rs. 10 per quintal towards dhulai and ladai.
- For better prices for Potato farmers, 3 member Group of Ministers will be constituted.
- For controlling Illegal Mining, 3 member Group of Ministers will be constituted.
- Sports complex to be constructed in Ghazipur.
- Illegal Slaughterhouses crackdown to continue.
UPSSSC Chairman has resigned. Govt had just put selection to 11,000 positions on hold.
State Transport Corporation starts Lakhimpur – Kanpur AC Janrath Buses.
Day 18: States engineers (Rajya Vidyut Abhiyanta Sangh) have prepared a blueprint to achieve 24 hours electricity target. Power Minister will meet the engineers to discuss the proposal in details.
Yogi inaugurates 56 ventilators in King George Medical University. He hinted strictness towards doctors engaging in private practice while in Government hospitals. Actions may follow soon.
Yogi has said education syllabus must be modernized. English will be included in primary schools itself. From class 10th, a foreign language will be included to help prepare students for foreign education.
TET pass BTC holders have gheraoed and demonstrated around Vidhan Bhavan against the government’s putting on hold of 16,460 teaching positions in primary schools. TET pass Urdu Moallims have also joined in the demonstration against the state government.
Day 19: CM has stressed on the quick completion of the following projects:
- Trans Ganga City, Unnao
- Saraswati Hitech City, Allahabad
- Theme Park, Agra
- Mega Food Park, Bahedi
- Agra Lucknow Expressway
Govt is considering bringing an ordinance to control rising private school fees. Instructions have been given to introduce biometric attendance in schools for teachers.
FIRs will be filed against teachers of State and State assisted schools who are engaged in private tuitions. Instructions have also been given to complete school syllabus in 200 days.
As a part of crackdown on cheating, government has revoked exams in 15 centers and debarred 34 schools.
Health department has arranged for a new tests to identify Encephalitis. Facilities for this have been arranged in 19 most affected districts. State wide control room has been set up. Strict instructions have been issued to the department to take utmost care. General public has been asked to lodge complaints on a published number in case of negligence.
Affordable Housing Policy is being closely reviewed. 111 private developers have been registered under this scheme. Developers are enjoying benefits but, progress has been poor. Instructions have been given for work to begin immediately and developers have been warned otherwise.
Strict orders have been issued to not allow criminals to transfer to jail hospitals unless health condition is serious. Jail doctors and officials have been warned of strict actions otherwise. It is expected that severe steps will follow to curb facilities enjoyed by criminals in support from jail officials.
Biometric attendance has started in Cane Development Department. E-Tendering has also begun in the department in all contracts.
In efforts to encourage solar power, UPERC has approved Rs. 100 monthly concession on electricity bills to individual households which have installed solar water heaters of more than 100 litres capacity. For commercial consumers who have installed rooftop solar plants, minimum charges will be waived.
Day 20: Yogi reviews presentation by Cane Development and Sugar Industry department.
- CM instructs for investigations into a 1180 crore rupees scam in the sale of 21 sugar mills during Mayavati government.
- CM asks for revival of cooperative sugar mills that have been closed down.
- Department to select 116 villages every year and develop them through sugar mills as adarsh villages. 580 villages will be developed across the next 5 years.
- Biometric attendance to be started in the department.
Yogi also reviews presentation by Energy Department:
- Government instructs district officials to compensate farmers within 7 days in case of fire mishaps due to damaged electrical wire accidents.
- CM instructs to ensure supply of electricity to villages between evening 6 PM and morning 6 AM in view of the ongoing board examinations.
- Strict laws will be brought to curb power theft. Separate thaana and special courts will be set up to deal with power theft menace.
- ‘Power for All Agreement’ will be signed on the 14th April.
The long ongoing thread of fees fixation for private medical and dental colleges has finally concluded. Private colleges used to charge fees between Rs. 30 L to 2 Crores. These have been revised as follows:
- MD Non-Clinical fees: Between Rs. 8.85 L and 11.14 L
- MD, MS Clinical fees: Between Rs. 15.94 L and 20.7 L
- MDS fees: Between Rs. 4.91 L and 8.05 L
Yogi has approved the International Airport project at Jewar, Greater Noida. He has already instructed officials to commence work on the same. This project was proposed by UP CM Rajnath Singh in 2001. This project has seen very little progress over last 16 years.
State Transport Corporation is mulling the plan of connecting 50,000 villages through 8,000 buses. The government has prohibited strikes in all services under STC for the next 6 months..
During the SP regime, many government schemes were named with the word ‘Samajwadi’. Yogi has asked for all such schemes to be presented before the cabinet. Their names will be reviewed and renamed to ‘Mukyamantri’.
Dealing with Encephalitis, state has sought help from center. Vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis will begin this May. Ambulance service to be strengthened.
Day 21: Govt begins investigations into the sale of 21 sugar mills by Mayavati Govt. Akhilesh govt had investigated it and found nothing wrong.
In view of the Law and Order situation, the government has issued instructions to authorized sellers to submit reports of the stocking of acid. Sellers will have to submit the report to SDM. Officials have been directed to submit reports on this to Home Department on 7th of every month.
Government is considering pardoning surcharge of defaulters amounting 19,000 crores across all consumers under Amnesty Scheme. The same proposal has been sent to UPERC for approval.
While reviewing Dairy Development Department’s presentation, Yogi has asked the VRS scheme for the department to be put on hold immediately. He has also instructed to begin investigations into Kamdhenu scheme of SP govt.
Day 22 – 23: A list of policemen to be prepared with any sort of relations with criminals. Such policemen may be transferred and action may be taken against. It is suspected that there may be more than 1000 such policemen. In Agra, a list of 80 such officials has been prepared.
UPERC has ordered availability of cheaper electricity to prepaid consumers. Such electricity will be 1.25% cheaper. The cost of prepaid meters and cable can be paid in 12 equal installments.
Under the Amnesty scheme, surcharges of defaulters till 31st March have been pardoned. The total burden of this decision will amount to about 15,000 crores. Of this, about 10,000 crores is attributed to household consumers.
Investigations into Gayatri Prajapati case transferred from Alambag CO to Hazratganj CO. It was alleged investigating authorities had been favouring Prajaprati. Investigations into Peace Party President Ayyub in the case of rape and murder of a Nursing student is also being transferred.
Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat met Yogi today. They had discussions on asset division between the two states. There have been too many open issues with respect to this since Uttarakhand’s creation in 2000. It has been decided that Chief Secretaries of both states will meet over the next 3 months and prepare the formula for resolution of all issues.
Government requests more funds from Center for Purvanchal and Bundelkhand.
Here is how week 4 looked.
(These have been compiled from various news paper reports)
