LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had a field day during his maiden trip to Bundelkhand on Thursday. A three-hour meeting with officials of Jhansi and Chitrakoot districts, an inspection of the district hospital, spot verification of a grain purchase centre, a visit to a school to interact with children and a meeting at a paramedical college—all in six hours. Any other politician would have patted himself for the hard’s day work and retired for the day. But not Yogi.
Within an hour of returning to the state capital, he met officials for their roadmap presentations, which continued for six hours. Yogi expects officers to work for 18-20 hours; and he leads by example.
Chhote Maharaj of Gorakshadham Peeth is an all-powerful CM now. But Yogi Adityanath hasn’t ceased being a ‘sadhak’. Seen as an embodiment of religion blended with politics, he is drawing reverence as a spiritual figure, a mahant and a gritty administrator who means business.
Within an hour of swearing-in on March 19, his first directive was for his ministers to reveal details of their assets. Same evening, senior bureaucrats were administered the oath of cleanliness by the CM. The gesture sent a terse message down the line—ignorance of ‘swachhta’ will mean ignoring the CM.
Yogi’s actions speak for themselves, be it the commitment to deliver on promises made in Sankalp Patra or nailing down corrupt forces. He took over 50 decisions in his first week in office even before he held his first Cabinet meeting. The crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses and unlicensed meat shops reflected his political grit—he knew it would ruffle many feathers. The action against meat traders exposed the slackness of previous dispensations who had shied away from regulating an over `26,000 crore trade, which employed over five lakh people across the state. At his first Cabinet meet, Yogi kept the much-awaited promise, announcing `1 lakh loan-waiver to over 86 lakh small and marginal farmers.
Tightening up the state police and sprucing up law and order, anti-Romeo squads took shape in no time.
Women felt and protected with police in overdrive to deliver results.
To rid the system of the babu culture, officers were warned not to sit on files as a habit. They were told not to take files home and dispose off cases within three working days, or give an explanation. CCTV cameras were installed in government
Offices, leaving little chance for a usual siesta or absence.
Yogi’s evening departmental review presentations commence at 6 pm and continue till past midnight.
“They are classes on governance during which we get to know the nuances of running the system efficiently. We do get dressing downs, but it helps us in keeping ourselves updated on schemes and programmes of our respective departments,” says a minister. At many presentations, Yogi has
taken spot decisions, such as starting intra-state air services and a helicopter service for religious places.
While educationists and doctors are feeling the heat on coaching and private practice, school children are also in for an ‘unpleasant’ surprise as their holidays will become shorter.
A prominent change is visible among the minority community, which is feeling the ripple effect of the BJP at the helm of affairs in UP. While Muslim women have become more forthcoming and vocal against triple talaaq, the men are agitated over the issue.