It was exactly a month ago when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took many by surprise and announced Yogi Adityanath as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. And on this day, 19 March, he took charge of one of India’s most politically significant states.
While many leaders dubbed this development path-breaking, others expressed their doubt over appointing a staunch Hindutva leader in a state that boasts of a sizeable proportion of India’s Muslim population.
In the past one month, Adityanath has managed to continue to surprise his supporters and detractors alike. As he completes a month, here are top 10 decisions of the Adityanath government so far:
1. Banning Illegal Slaughterhouses
The ban on illegal abattoirs was one of the main agendas of the BJP manifesto in the elections. Keeping the promise, Yogi Adityanath launched a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses, a day after he took charge. Illegal slaughterhouses were sealed in Allahabad and other places across the state.
2. Anti-Romeo Squads
The BJP party President Amit Shah made the grandiose promise of forming anti-Romeo squads across UP if the state voted his party into power. The Yogi government didn’t waste any time and constituted the anti-Romeo squads meant for women’s safety, just two days after coming to power.
3. Farm Loan Waiver
Keeping BJP's poll promise to small and marginal farmers, the Yogi Adityanath government approved the waiver of loans of over 2.15 crore farmers, totalling Rs 36,359 crore on 4 April.
The first cabinet meeting, presided over by Yogi Adityanath himself, decided to float Kisan Rahat Bonds for raising Rs 36,359 crore required for waiving the loans of small and marginal farmers.
4. Crackdown on VIP Culture
Adityanath asked all his ministerial colleagues to shun sirens and hooters and red beacons atop vehicles.
5. Mobile ICU Ambulance
Yogi government decided on starting an ICU Ambulance in Uttar Pradesh with Advance Life Support system. Each district is supposed to have at least two ICU ambulances.
6. Ministers to Declare Assets Every Year
Sending a strong message against corruption on day one, Adityanath on 20 March asked all his ministers to provide details of their income, moveable and immoveable assets within 15 days.
He gave this direction to his ministers at the first introductory meeting soon after assuming office.
7. 18-Hour Continuous Electricity to Rural Areas
Adityanath promised to ensure a continuous supply of electricity to rural areas in the state, that would extend up to 18 hours.
8. Ban on Pan Masala, Gutka and Plastic in Govt Offices
Adityanath on 22 March ordered a ban on plastic, pan masala, and gutka in all government establishments with immediate effect.
9. UP Govt Orders Probe in to Akhilesh’s Gomti River Front project
Two weeks after coming to power, the Adityanath-led BJP government constituted a judicial probe into financial irregularities in the Gomti River Front project, a much-publicised initiative of Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
10. Compulsory Yoga Programme in UP School
The UP government issues a statement to make Yoga compulsory in state-run schools. During a meeting chaired by Adityanath, officials were instructed to introduce Yoga in all government schools under the 'Rani Laxmibai Aatmaraskha Kaaryakram' (self-defence programme) and 'Yog Shiksha Kaaryakram' (Yoga education programme).
(With inputs from PTI and IANS.)
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