News Analysis India

Tag: UP government

  • UP cabinet meeting: Interest-free loan sanctioned for industrial corridors along expressways

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, decided to provide an interest-free loan of Rs 3000 crore from the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority to the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEDA).

    The cabinet’s nod for the interest-free loan came after it was apprised earlier that UPEIDA lacks the financial resources to acquire land to develop industrial corridors. As per the terms and conditions, the authority would have to arrange 50 per cent of the funds required for it.

    The UP government is working to convert expressways into corridors for an array of industries, including manufacturing and food processing units, warehousing and logistics which will generate employment opportunities in the state. The government has recently notified 84 villages in 23 districts to develop industrial corridors.

    UP has around half a dozen expressways including Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway, Yamuna Expressway, Meerut-Delhi Expressway and Gorakhpur link Expressway (which is yet to get operational). Moreover, the state’s longest Expressway, from Meerut to Prayagraj, is in the offing.

    With such a network of expressways, the state agency, UPEIDA will acquire about 100 acres in the vicinity of each expressway project for allotment to industry. The government will also incur nearly Rs 4,000 crore to acquire land near the expressway projects, especially at the entry and exit points, for faster transportation of goods and seamless logistics. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, decided to provide an interest-free loan of Rs 3000 crore from the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority to the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEDA).

    The cabinet’s nod for the interest-free loan came after it was apprised earlier that UPEIDA lacks the financial resources to acquire land to develop industrial corridors. As per the terms and conditions, the authority would have to arrange 50 per cent of the funds required for it.

    The UP government is working to convert expressways into corridors for an array of industries, including manufacturing and food processing units, warehousing and logistics which will generate employment opportunities in the state. The government has recently notified 84 villages in 23 districts to develop industrial corridors.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    UP has around half a dozen expressways including Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway, Yamuna Expressway, Meerut-Delhi Expressway and Gorakhpur link Expressway (which is yet to get operational). Moreover, the state’s longest Expressway, from Meerut to Prayagraj, is in the offing.

    With such a network of expressways, the state agency, UPEIDA will acquire about 100 acres in the vicinity of each expressway project for allotment to industry. The government will also incur nearly Rs 4,000 crore to acquire land near the expressway projects, especially at the entry and exit points, for faster transportation of goods and seamless logistics. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Deoband’s Darul Uloom decides against affiliation to UP Madrasa Board

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: After being found unrecognised during the survey of state Madrasas, Asia’s biggest Islamic seminary Darul Uloom, situated in Deoband of Saharanpur, decided against getting affiliated to UP Madrasa Board as it did not need recognition, avail of the government’s aid nor be part of other state-sponsored welfare schemes. 

    The seminary also decided not to make changes to the courses running in the madrasas affiliated with it currently.

    All three decisions were taken unanimously by the Islamic seminary at its day-long national convention in Deoband on Sunday. The convention was attended by the owners of over 6000 madrasas affiliated with the seminary.

    On one hand, scholars like Mufti Abul Kasim Nomani of Darul Uloom and Maulana Arshad Madni, president, of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, held the state government’s survey right and nothing was said to condemn or criticise the survey. Whereas on the other, they refused to get affiliated with the state Madrasa Board.

    Moreover, after the convention, Maulana Madni said that the face of the UP government which emerged after the survey of madrasas was not bad. But he reiterated the Islamic seminary was against getting either the affiliation to Madrasa Board or receiving any funds from the state government.

    Maulana said that the seminary had sufficient resources and funds and after discussion, it was decided to continue the existing courses in madrasas associated with it without making any changes.

    Seeking to disassociate madrasas from politics, Maulana Madni reiterated the role played by Darul Uloom and its scholars during the freedom struggle. However, he did not mince words while expressing shock over the attempts allegedly being made to question madrasas’ integrity and link the institutions with terrorism.

    According to the seminary’s spokesperson Ashraf Usmani, Darul Uloom of Deoband was registered under the Society Act and had madrasas from across the country affiliated with it. Hence, it needed no affiliation from the UP Madrasa Board. 

    He explained that the seminary also did not need any government aid because it had sufficient funds provided by people for its activities. Usmani also said that the objective of the conference, organised once in two years, was to discuss issues related to madrasas in the prevailing situation.

    Speaking during the convention, Mohtamim Mufti Abul Kasim Nomani advocated for the syllabus to be taught at other schools for students of ‘Panjoom’ (Class V) besides imparting them Islamic education. He exhorted the affiliated madrasas to arrange primary education for children till class V on their own and include the syllabus of English, Mathematics, Science, History and regional language for the madrasa students. He also suggested the madrasas to run state government-approved primary education syllabi.

    Nomani emphasised making the students consume cultural values besides the regular courses. He asked the madrasas’ management to keep any negative thoughts or activity at bay besides keeping their documents updated and teaching arrangements perfect so that no one could raise a finger.

    Mufti Nomani also reminded the Madrasa management of their responsibility to crush the anti-national forces as he claimed that the madrasas always imparted the lesson of peace and harmony.

    LUCKNOW: After being found unrecognised during the survey of state Madrasas, Asia’s biggest Islamic seminary Darul Uloom, situated in Deoband of Saharanpur, decided against getting affiliated to UP Madrasa Board as it did not need recognition, avail of the government’s aid nor be part of other state-sponsored welfare schemes. 

    The seminary also decided not to make changes to the courses running in the madrasas affiliated with it currently.

    All three decisions were taken unanimously by the Islamic seminary at its day-long national convention in Deoband on Sunday. The convention was attended by the owners of over 6000 madrasas affiliated with the seminary.

    On one hand, scholars like Mufti Abul Kasim Nomani of Darul Uloom and Maulana Arshad Madni, president, of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, held the state government’s survey right and nothing was said to condemn or criticise the survey. Whereas on the other, they refused to get affiliated with the state Madrasa Board.

    Moreover, after the convention, Maulana Madni said that the face of the UP government which emerged after the survey of madrasas was not bad. But he reiterated the Islamic seminary was against getting either the affiliation to Madrasa Board or receiving any funds from the state government.

    Maulana said that the seminary had sufficient resources and funds and after discussion, it was decided to continue the existing courses in madrasas associated with it without making any changes.

    Seeking to disassociate madrasas from politics, Maulana Madni reiterated the role played by Darul Uloom and its scholars during the freedom struggle. However, he did not mince words while expressing shock over the attempts allegedly being made to question madrasas’ integrity and link the institutions with terrorism.

    According to the seminary’s spokesperson Ashraf Usmani, Darul Uloom of Deoband was registered under the Society Act and had madrasas from across the country affiliated with it. Hence, it needed no affiliation from the UP Madrasa Board. 

    He explained that the seminary also did not need any government aid because it had sufficient funds provided by people for its activities. Usmani also said that the objective of the conference, organised once in two years, was to discuss issues related to madrasas in the prevailing situation.

    Speaking during the convention, Mohtamim Mufti Abul Kasim Nomani advocated for the syllabus to be taught at other schools for students of ‘Panjoom’ (Class V) besides imparting them Islamic education. He exhorted the affiliated madrasas to arrange primary education for children till class V on their own and include the syllabus of English, Mathematics, Science, History and regional language for the madrasa students. He also suggested the madrasas to run state government-approved primary education syllabi.

    Nomani emphasised making the students consume cultural values besides the regular courses. He asked the madrasas’ management to keep any negative thoughts or activity at bay besides keeping their documents updated and teaching arrangements perfect so that no one could raise a finger.

    Mufti Nomani also reminded the Madrasa management of their responsibility to crush the anti-national forces as he claimed that the madrasas always imparted the lesson of peace and harmony.

  • UP Higher Education Commission’s faux pas may kick up to a row; Akbar ‘Allahabadi’ changed to Akbar ‘Praygraji’ on official website

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: In a major faux pas that may snowball into a big controversy bringing the UP government under fire, the higher education commission authorities of Uttar Pradesh went on to change the name of a famous Urdu Poet Akbar Allahabadi following the renaming of Allahabad city to Prayagraj. Now Akbar Allahabadi is known as Akbar ‘Praygaraji’.

    The change was effected on the official website of the UP Higher Education Service Commission. The name of the iconic writer was changed from Akbar Allahabadi to Akbar Prayagraji on the Commission’s ‘About Allahabad’ section of the website.

    As per reports, the name-changing process has irked a number of writers and poets, while the President of the commission Prof Ishwar Sharan Vishwakarma tried to distance himself from the controversy, feigning ignorance saying any such development was not in his knowledge.

    Vishwakarma while, interacting with media persons, said that he would ask the authorities concerned to look into the matter and ratify the mistake if any.

    It does not seem that the change was made by mistake as the name of other poets with the last name Allahabadi have also been altered and made Prayagraji. The UP Higher Education Service Commission website features a section called ‘About Allahabad’ wherein brief information about the history of the city can be found. The section, besides Akbar Allahabadi, has the changed names of other renowned poets like Teg Allahabadi as Teg Prayagraji, Rashid Allahabadi as Rashid Prayagraji as well. However, the officials do not rule out a technical glitch.

  • ‘Allahabadi’ becomes Akbar ‘Praygraji’ on UP Higher Education Commission’s website; authorities blame ‘mischievous elements’

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: In a major faux pas that may snowball into a big controversy bringing the UP government under fire, the higher education commission authorities of Uttar Pradesh went on to change the name of a famous Urdu Poet Akbar Allahabadi following the renaming of Allahabad city to Prayagraj. Now Akbar Allahabadi is known as Akbar ‘Praygaraji’.

    The change was effected on the official website of the UP Higher Education Service Commission. The name of the iconic writer was changed from Akbar Allahabadi to Akbar Prayagraji on the Commission’s ‘About Allahabad’ section of the website.

    As per reports, the name-changing process has irked a number of writers and poets, while the President of the commission Prof Ishwar Sharan Vishwakarma tried to distance himself from the controversy, feigning ignorance saying any such development was not in his knowledge.

    Vishwakarma while, interacting with media persons, said that he would ask the authorities concerned to look into the matter and ratify the mistake if any.

    It does not seem that the change was made by mistake as the name of other poets with the last name Allahabadi have also been altered and made Prayagraji. The UP Higher Education Service Commission website features a section called ‘About Allahabad’ wherein brief information about the history of the city can be found. The section, besides Akbar Allahabadi, has the changed names of other renowned poets like Teg Allahabadi as Teg Prayagraji, Rashid Allahabadi as Rashid Prayagraji as well. However, the officials do not rule out a technical glitch.

    Meanwhile, in a late night denial issued and undersigned by Dr Shivji Malviya, Deputy Secretary, UP Higher Education Service Commission, it has been claimed that the change of name of some of the poets in ‘about us’ section of website www.uphesc.org was an act of some mischievous elements. It was not been done by the commission which has reported the matter to cyber cell of the UP and legal action will be initiated after the probe. Meanwhile, the commission was rectifying the error, said the statement issued by the commission.

  • UP includes ‘married daughters’ in list of dependents for government jobs

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: In a significant cabinet decision taken to benefit married women, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to place the married daughters of government officials in the category of dependents and made them eligible for a job on compassionate grounds if the government official dies during the service period.

    The state cabinet headed by CM Yogi Adityanath put its seal on the proposal. The move could give a new colour to women empowerment in poll-bound UP.

    The state cabinet cleared the proposal to this effect through a cabinet by-circulation late on Wednesday night. Until now, only the wife, a married/unmarried son and unmarried daughter were eligible to be considered as dependents of a deceased government official. The cabinet broadened the definition of “dependent daughters” to include the married ones also, officials said.

    A senior official, however, clarified that the married daughter will be considered for the job only after the deceased’s wife, married/unmarried son and unmarried daughter.

    “She may also get the job if the other family members refuse to take up a government job,” the official said.

    The proposal was moved as the 12th amendment in the deceased government servants’ rule 2021. 

    Earlier this year, the Allahabad High Court had maintained that excluding married daughters from the definition of “family” in the rules for appointment on compassionate grounds was “unconstitutional” and in violation of Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution. 

    While hearing a petition in January, the High Court held that a married daughter was “no less eligible” for government jobs on compassionate grounds than her married brother or unmarried sister.

    In another important decision, the cabinet gave its nod to a proposal of rehabilitating 63 Hindu Bengali families who were displaced after the formation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1971. The families will be settled in village Bhaisaya in Kanpur (rural) over 121.41 hectares of land. Each family will begiven 2 acres of land for agricultural purposes and 200 sq mt (over 2100 sq ft) of land for housing on a lease rent of Re 1 for a period of 30 years, renewable up to 90 years. They will also be provided a grant of Rs 1.20 lakh for the construction of a house.

    These families were earlier settled in Hastinapur in Meerut by providing them jobs in Madan Yarn Mill. The Mill got shut in 1984. Since then, the families had been seeking rehabilitation. 

    In 1971, the centre rehabilitated 332 displaced Hindu families during the formation of East Pakistan in Orissa (now Odisha) and in Badaun district of UP.

  • Women unsafe in Uttar Pradesh: Priyanka Gandhi 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government over the issue of safety of women, alleging that women are unsafe in the state.

    Her attack came after media reports claimed that an officer at Bapu Bhavan in Lucknow has been arrested for allegedly molesting a contractual worker after a video of the incident went viral.

    “Be it secretariat, road or any other place: Women are unsafe in Uttar Pradesh. This is the reality of the government’s claim on ‘women’s safety’,” Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

    “A sister from Uttar Pradesh had to make a video of the incident with her viral due to inaction on her complaint of sexual harassment. How much patience and fighting power would she have had?” the Congress general secretary said.

    Gandhi urged women in the state to unite and fight for themselves.

    “You are a girl, you can fight. All the women of the country are standing with you,” she said.

    The Congress has been attacking the state government over the issue of law and order and women’s safety, alleging that criminal activities are rampant, a claim denied by the Yogi Adityanath dispensation.

  • UP govt releases over Rs 208 crore for flood-hit farmers

    By Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Providing immediate relief to farmers in distress due to crop loss during the recent floods, the Uttar Pradesh government has released an amount of over Rs 208 crore in 44 districts. This will benefit around 6.18 lakh farmers of the state. The government has directed all the concerned officials to ensure that the aid reaches the affected farmers immediately.

    The government has dispensed the relief package after assessing crop losses. The government had already released a total of Rs 1,59,28,97,496 to about 4,77,581 farmers earlier this week. On Friday, for the distribution of agricultural investment grants to the remaining 1,39,863 farmers identified after survey, a fund of Rs. 48,20,57,668 was released.

    Crops here have been badly damaged due to torrential rains and heavy floods in September and early October. The compensation amount will be directly transferred to the bank account (DBT) of farmers from the district treasury. In wake of the natural calamities, the government is providing financial assistance from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).

    Standing firmly with the farmers suffering from crop loss due to floods, the Chief Minister has also instructed the officials to give appropriate and immediate compensation to the farmers at any cost. 

    The process of damage assessment has been intensified in the flood-affected districts. Following reports of crop loss due to floods and heavy showers in some parts of Uttar Pradesh in September and October, the state government had ordered a survey to assess agricultural damage which is still on.

    The districts of Purvanchal were the most affected by the floods. In view of the problems of the farmers, CM Yogi himself visited the flood-affected areas and took stock of the situation. The CM had also instructed ministers and MLAs to visit the flood-affected areas to help the farmers.

  • Kanpur’s Zika virus case tally reaches 10, focus on halting mosquito breeding

    By Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh has so far reported 10 cases of the Zika virus with six fresh cases of the mosquito-borne virus being reported from Kanpur district. 

    While three of these cases are Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel, the remaining seven, including six reported recently, are all civilians including a pregnant woman, who is under round-the-clock observation.

    According to state government sources, a total of 645 samples have been sent to King George Medical University (KGMU) so far. 253 samples among them have been collected from people with symptoms of fever and 103 samples are of pregnant women. Out of 507 samples tested, merely 9 people have tested positive for Zika virus, while 1 patient had tested positive from the samples that were sent to NIV Pune. 

    READ HERE | Zika virus explained: How is it spread & why pregnant women should take extra caution?

    Heightening preventive measures to eliminate cases of Zika virus in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government will further intensify comprehensive surveillance and implement stringent containment curbs on the breeding of mosquitoes. 

    “The Health Department must ensure strict surveillance to check the spread of Zika virus and should undertake frequent and extensive door-to-door sanitisation and fogging drives to stop mosquito breeding. People should be made aware of preventive measures and must be encouraged to maintain cleanliness,” instructed the Chief Minister in a high-level meeting with senior officials. 

    The state health department has been carrying out mass-scale sanitisation drives, state-wide surveillance, spraying of anti-larva chemicals, and fogging to curtail the spread. The health workers have been paying door-to-door visits to identify patients with viral fever, vector-borne diseases and other symptoms. Under the drive, over 39,897 households have been covered and more than 1,61,535 people have been made aware of the preventive measures to remove mosquito breeding sites. 

    It is noteworthy that since the confirmation of the state’s first case of Zika virus on October 22, the Uttar Pradesh government is carrying out strict testing of samples at a large scale to remove the risk of any further spread at KGMU, Lucknow. 

    Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that spreads through the bite of an infected Aedes species of mosquito named Aedes aegypti. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Aedes mosquitoes usually bite during the day, peaking during early morning and late afternoon or evening. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

    For the majority of people, Zika virus infection is not a serious issue. But it can be very dangerous among pregnant women. The infection can cause microcephaly (a brain disability condition) or other conditions called congenital Zika syndrome.

  • Lakhimpur Kheri: UP gets it from Supreme Court for failing to arrest minister’s son

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Expressing dissatisfaction at the way the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in UP is being probed, the Supreme Court on Friday said the state government should show some seriousness in dealing with it. 

    “Your seriousness is only in words and not in your actions,” Chief Justice of India N V Ramana snapped at senior advocate Harish Salve, who appeared for the UP government.

    “Is this the way you treat (murder) accused in other cases as well?” the CJI asked, when Salve said the UP Police have issued summons to accused Ashish Mishra, son of Union minister Ajay Mishra, to appear at 11 am on Saturday, since he failed to turn up for questioning on Friday.

    When Salve said the summons was issued to the accused since the autopsy report did not find bullet wounds on the bodies of the eight victims, the court asked, “Is this a ground for not taking custody?”Salve, however, conceded, “The manner in which this car was driven, it leaves no manner of doubt that the allegations (of farmers mowed down) are true. It is possibly a 302 (Section 302, which prescribes punishment for murder).”

    The court shot back, “This is a responsible state government and police. When there is a serious allegation of death or gunshot injury, will the other accused in this country be treated the same way? Sending them notices, like asking to please come tell us?… See what is the message we are sending. In normal circumstances, if a 302 case is registered, what will the police do? Go and arrest the accused.” The bench was hearing a PIL registered on the basis of a letter sent by two lawyers. 

    The CJI also did not see merit in an SIT formed for the case, saying they are all local officers. He asked the state to direct the DGP to protect the evidence. The case will now be heard after the Dussehra vacations.

    CJI’s cryptic comment on CBI probe“We hope the state will take necessary steps. Because of the sensitivity of the issue, we are not making any comment. And CBI may not be a solution for reasons you better know… because of persons… Better some other mode you find out (for probe),” CJI Ramana told Harish Salve

  • SC criticizes Yogi govt’s probe in Lakhimpur violence case, asks why accused not arrested yet

    By Online Desk

    Unsatisfied over the handling of the Lakhimpur violence case, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government why the accused, Ashish Mishra, wasn’t arrested despite an FIR filed against him.

    During the suo-motu hearing on Lakhimpur Kheri violence, the Supreme Court said “it is a brutal murder of eight persons and the law must take its course against all accused.”

    ​The apex court also urged the state government to “take necessary steps due to the sensitivity of the issue.”

    ​VIEW GALLERY | ‘Fascism’, ‘Jallianwala Bagh’, ‘Hitler’: Lakhimpur Kheri farmers’ killing leads to strong reactions by Opposition leaders

    Four farmers were mowed down by an SUV in Lakhimpur Kheri when a group agitating against the Centre’s three new farm laws was holding a demonstration against the visit of UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

    The car, later identified, belonged to Ajay Mishra, son of Union minister Ajay Mishra.

    Meanwhile, the Supreme Court noted that senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, has assured it that the highest police officer in the State will be informed to preserve the evidence in the case.

    ​(Inputs from ANI)