It is mixed bag of failure and success for Akhilesh Yadav as he completes two years in office on Friday. If he carried forward last year’s tag of bad law and order and Government’s lack of political commitment to control crime to the second year, what goes to his credit is the inclination shown by him to usher in development in the state by bringing reforms in departments of health, power and introducing rapid transport system in form of metro.
This was the year which witnessed one of the worst riots the country had ever seen in last one decade. It is almost eight months since riot broke out in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli areas of western Uttar Pradesh which left at least 60 dead and over 40,000 were rendered homeless. If Government figures are to be believed over 4,000 people are still living in relief camps and they are afraid to go back to their homes.
It is Government’s failure to restore the confidence that could allow people to return to their homes. The claims of Uttar Pradesh Government of extending relief - never heard before - to the relief victims stands out as an ugly wart. If the poor people still live in camps where their children died of cold and diarrhea this reflects the insensitive face of the Government.
When Akhilesh Yadav came to power two years back the newspapers screamed "Goonda raj is back." Two years down the line these headlines still reverberate in the air.
The way power-drunk ruling party workers thrash toll tax operators or a party legislator thrash a government clerk in agriculture department and an a state-minister rank senior
leader beat up a junior engineer in Irrigation department because he refused to sign on the dotted lines reflect the mindset of party workers and Government’s lack of political will to stem this rot. It went so deep that forced party’s national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav to issue warning to its workers in Saifai mahotsava to shun goondagardi.
The recent example is of GSVM College violence in Kanpur and the way Government handled it. The administration allowed the whole issue to linger on. Government took action only when High Court intervened and then only Kanpur police staff was transferred to allow free and fair probe.
Amid these dark clouds the year witnessed administrative decisions that are destined to bring smiles to the faces of people. There decision to allow free treatment in state-run hospitals and imparting free education to girl students was historic. The 108 Samajwadi Ambulance service and 102 National Ambulance Service for pregnant women and new born is likely to provide healthcare facilities to the people at their door steps. The 1090 women power line brought down crime against women. Besides, serious attempts made by the Government to improve power scenario by setting up power projects in Uttar Pradesh would go a good stead in taking the state to the path of development. he Samajwadi Pension scheme would improve the social network in which poor would get Rs 500 pension.
It might be the beginning the road seems to be long and the ride is bumpy. The projects which are on paper need to be taken out of drawing boards and implement it with honesty.
If Chief Minister can do it, he will transform Uttar Pradesh into Uttam Pradesh in true sense.