Yogi Adityanath's hectic pace of functioning and his focused result-oriented approach have compelled the bureaucracy and the police to abandon their laidback attitude
For Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to run an administration, is certainly not new. He had been heading the Gorakhnath Peeth in Gorakhpur since the last few decades. But this time, being the Chief Minister of the State with the largest number of lok Sabha seats, the canvas is bigger — and so is the responsibility. He has been chosen by the BJP leadership to prepare the most populated State for the party’s Mission 2019 at the Centre. So, Yogi is a man in a hurry.
He made his intentions clear from day one, that he meant business. Soon the anti-Romeo squads were pressed into service to instill a sense of security among women. “I feel secure in moving at night since patrolling has increased and police vehicles dot the city. Now I can escort my son to his chess class even at late hours”, says Kiran Singh, a teacher. Hemlata Bhatia, an academic coordinator in Modern Academy, does not mince words in admitting that “there is a positive change ever since the BJP Government came to power”. A working woman, Komal Verma, is obliged to the Yogi because she feels secure in returning from work even late. An entrepreneur, Rashmi Agarwal endorses the views that policing has shown a marked improvement. Gitanjali Bahadur, a teacher also feels that it is easy to go to work. An orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Sunil Kumar says, “The Chief Minister is working with an open mind without any prejudice against any community. Deepak Sinha, manager, corporate communications, at a private firm, feels that all the people would be treated at par without any prejudice and appeasement. Roadside Romeos have been rounded up as the 24-hour vigil by the police remained active. Girls move freely without fear of being stalked or of having to face lewd remarks. Aditi Agarwal, a jewellery designer who frequently travels the lucknow-Delhi-Jaipur route, says there is a marked change in attitude. Of course, expectations are very high from the Chief Minister. Dev Ashish, an investment advisor remarks, “Now the police are alert and can be seen moving throughout the city.”
Streamlining law and order has remained the top priority. Soon results started showing: A kidnapping case was solved within two days, the victim was rescued and handed back to the parents, and the kidnappers were nabbed by the police. A housewife, Kanak Singh, is of the view that even in such a short span of time, results prove that, if police force is devoted to its work, nothing is impossible. It has become possible due to a strong Chief Minister — and Yogi has proved it.
The Yogi Government kept up its commitment to farmers by meeting one of its main poll promises — waiver of farm loans for small and marginal farmers to the tune of over Rs 36,359 crore. This would benefit more than 86 lakh small and marginal farmers. The Government has also decided to bring a Kisan Rahat Bond to recover the loss. There are around 2.15 crore small and marginal farmers, which is about 92.5 per cent of the total farming community (of 2.30 crore).
The Government decided to waive all the outstanding crop loans due to small and marginal farmers as on March 31, 2017, taken till March 31, 2016 (up to a maximum limit of one lakh rupees per farmer). These farmers were unable to pay the loan and could have fallen in the trap of local moneylenders. Thus the Government announced the loan waiver scheme so that the growth rate in the agriculture sector did not suffer an adverse impact.
Yogi’s style of functioning and his tireless working took everyone by surprise. Beginning his day early and working till late hours at night, he has kept bureaucrats on their toes. They were told to shun their laidback attitude, made accountable for their work and asked to deliver results. Attendance was made compulsory for one and all. Even his team of Ministers was asked to perform and fulfil targets set for each of them. They have been given a time-bound programme.
The Council of Ministers was strictly told to stay away from transfer-posting issues, which had been made into an industry during previous Governments. Yogi clarified that he would have zero tolerance as far as corruption was concerned at all levels. He made surprise inspections of the previous Government’s prestigious projects such as the Gomti riverfront one. Expressing his dissatisfaction at the huge amount of funds spent with little visible change, he ordered an inquiry into the incomplete work. “Even after spending such a huge amount, there is a foul stench in the water”, the Chief Minister observed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachch Bharat Abhiyan saw senior officers and Ministers picking up the broom to clean their offices. Surely this came as a welcome change. Even the opposition parties had little to comment on Yogi’s fast-paced work. But former Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav scorned: “I never knew the officers could do such a good job at cleaning with the broom, otherwise even I would have asked them to do it.”
The Government has promised 24-hour power supply to district headquarters and 18-hour supply in rural areas by April 14. The illegal abattoirs came under Yogi’s scanner and the Government took a strict view and ordered their closure. All agreed that illegal slaughtering had continued unabated during the previous regime. The Government also showed its resolve in checking the malaise of cheating in examinations. A resident, Vandana Sharma, says, “The restriction on private schools charging exorbitant fees has brought relief to many parents who were finding it difficult to meet expenses of their children.” A hme-maker, Renuka Singh, was more than happy to see that the Chief Minister’s daily public durbar had crowds of more than 200 people. “Now even the common people have easy access to the Chief Minister, and they have faith in him.”
The people of Uttar Pradesh are now looking forward to the Yogi Government’s implementation of the many development schemes to propel their State march ahead on the path of progress.