Dear Yogi ji, You Could Begin by Ticking These Tasks Off the List

Instead of anti-Romeo squads, Yogi ji could’ve begun his tenure as CM by undertaking reforms in education and health

Even as everyone is being apprehensive about Yogi Adityanath’s reign as the chief minister of heartland state of Uttar Pradesh, the firebrand BJP leader can actually give a befitting reply to his detractors. In a state where ‘vikas’ is a phenomena that has touched people’s lives, there’s a lot on the front of health, education, etc, that the CM could focus on in the coming days.

1) Revamp State Education Board

The UP Basic Education Board has one of the most theoretical and lengthy syllabus in the world – it should be made easy and more accessible for students.

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2) Promote Yoga

Uttar Pradesh currently exports greatest number of Yoga teachers across the globe. And so if Yogi ji focuses on Yoga, it ticks all the metrics of job creation, social mobilisation as well as tourism.

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3) Temple Can Wait

Faizabad needs more engineering and medical colleges today. The temple can wait. The need of the hour is a super speciality hospital like AIIMS or Kokilaben-like private hospital in Ayodhya, as most of the patients have to go either to Varanasi or Lucknow for treatment. Just give it a great world class hospital Yogi ji. UP has abysmal infant mortality rates. Education and health must be the government’s topmost priority.

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4) Cash Scholarships

Cash scholarships for students can be a game-changer. Avoid freebies like smartphones and laptops as they lead to corruption at the procurement stage. Yogi ji can push for direct cash transfer to students. In fact the BJP-led government can expand the criteria and try including more girls and minorities under the ambit of the scheme.

5) Sanitation and Cleanliness

Banning gutka and paan in government offices is a welcome move but more needs to be done. UP can take a cue from the Northeastern states. The stakeholders in holy cities such as Allahabad and Varanasi should be accountable for cleanliness at public places. Deploying more personnel for the same, under the purview of the Swachch Bharat Mission, will create more jobs as well.

6) Police Reforms

Unfortunately, the UP police has always been a scapegoat for politicians. Yogi ji, you need to shield the police from political interference.

7) Transforming UP into an Entertainment Hub

UP could easily become a permanent destination for films, given its picturesque locales with an ability to attract tourists, ease of language and low cost of living. Right now it’s a preferred location for producers with "connections", helping them waive duties.

8) Give Privatisation a Chance

And finally, Yogi ji’s government can take gradual steps towards privatisation of electricity and water supply services to ensure 24-hour availability of the same. Let’s hope Yogi ji helps Uttar Pradesh become Uttam Pradesh in the next five years.

(The writer is a Mumbai-based filmmaker and can be reached @prashantpandey1. This is a personal blog and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)

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