UP Governor Ram naik has said that he has given a given a new identity to the state during the last four years of his tenure in the state. He said at his imitative the state government decided to celebrate January 25 as `UP foundation day’’ and on same day the ambitious scheme `One district one product’ (ODOP) scheme was launch which has huge potential of creating fresh employment avenues.
The governor said the ODOP scheme will bring out the unique identity in the form of specific handicraft and cottage industry in each district. He said the UP investors summit in February this year was another important event in UP, which is a matter of great satisficfation not only for the people of the state but entire country. The Governor made these observations while addressing a press conference here on Sunday on the occasion of completing fourth year in office as governor of Uttar Pradesh.
The Governor said the joint address by the Governor to the state legislature in February this year was another highly satisfying experience this year. He said he was informed by the officials of the UP assembly that it was after a gap of 11 years that the Governor could read the entire 38 page address to the state legislature. He said he was the first governor in last decade to have achieved this feat as last time in was in 2007 when the Governor had read the entire address in the assembly during the tenure of the Bahujan Samaj party chief Mayawati who was the chief minister.
He said during the last fiscal 2017-18, he promulgated as many 15 ordinances. He said the state government forwarded 42 bills to the Governor after their passage by the state legislature the governor. He said of these he gave his approval to 24 bills while referred the rest to the President of India as these bills contained some provisions which are also part of the Central Acts.
Replying to a question on the state universities rushing with the appointment against vacancies in various faculties without giving due reservation of 21 percent to the SC/ST and 27 percent to the OBCs, the Governor the matter is pending in the supreme court and the University grants commission has advised universities against making appointments till fresh directives are issued by the Central body. He said he has also directed the state universities to follow the guidelines of the UGC.
Asked about the allegation by the Samajwadi party chief akhuilesh Yadav that he is guided by the dictates of the RSS, the Governor said ``it’s a political allegation and I am holding a constitutional office and it’s against the dignity of the office I am holding to comment on it’’.
Replying to a question on law and order in the state the Governor said ``I have said earlier also there should be improvement in law and order and I stand by that as improving the law and order is a continuous process’’. He added ``law and order is steadily improving in the state and constant effort is needed for keeping the situation firmly under control’’. The governor said he received 808 mercy petitions from the convicted criminals which were forwarded to him by the state government and after scrutiny he allowed the release of 79 convicts from the jail before the completion of their sentence and rest 729 were rejected.