Yogi positions Ayodhya as global tourism hub

Virendra Singh Rawat

Lucknow / July 25, 2021

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday reiterated his resolve to develop Ayodhya as a global religious and cultural tourism hub.

“Ramnagari (Ayodhya) offers an amalgamation of spirituality and tourism, and the state government is working dedicatedly towards the cause. Ayodhya will shine globally and millions of devotees and pilgrims will converge here,” Yogi said during his visit to the temple town.

Observing that the central and state governments were “committed to restoring Ayodhya to its ancient glory,” he said multifarious development works were being carried out for the composite development of the town.

The Ayodhya airstrip is already being redeveloped as an international airport even as the state has proposed to set up a 251 metre Lord Ram temple and develop a ‘New Ayodhya’ modern township.

The CM, who arrived in the afternoon, also visited the Ram Janmabhoomi site to review the progress in respect of the construction of a grand Ram temple. He offered obeisance at the famous Hanuman Garhi Temple too.

Meanwhile, he took stock of the medical and healthcare situation in Ayodhya in the backdrop of Covid-19 as well as the ongoing vaccination drive. The government has recently set up an oxygen plant in the district and augmented facilities to deal with any exigency in view of the warning about possible 3rd wave of the pandemic.

UP to launch free online Sanskrit classes

Virendra Singh Rawat

Lucknow / July 13, 2021

Sanskrit is reckoned as one of the world’s oldest living languages, one which sadly lies in utter neglect and apathy of the government(s) and patrons alike.

However, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to promote the ancient language by launching free virtual Sanskrit classes by the month end.

The training will be offered by UP Sanskrit Sansthan to those desirous of speaking, reading and learning Sanskrit, which is reverred as the Language of the Gods by Hindus and one which forms the basis of several other Indian languages and dialects.

According to the state government, the people, including students, could easily register themselves with a missed call alert. This training will be imparted through virtual classes of an hour each for 20 days, thus a total of 20 hours of study/training.

“The UP government is trying to inculcate Sanskrit and give an opportunity to those who want to learn it,” a government spokesperson noted.

An individual could give a miss call at mobile phone number 9522340003, and follow it up by filling up a simple form.

Dr Vachaspati Mishra, Sansthan president, said it was a novel initiative of the Yogi government and that the learners will be taught moral values along with Sanskrit module.

Lockdown-hit cinema halls to get relief package

Virendra Singh Rawat

Lucknow / July 5, 2021

Expanding the spectre of unlocking in Uttar Pradesh, the multiplexes, cinema halls, gyms and stadiums reopened from today after several weeks of lockdown 2.0.

However, they are mandated to follow standard Covid-19 safety protocols. The night curfew between 9 pm and 7 am and the weekend curfew on Saturday and Sunday will exist.

Meanwhile, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to hammer out a relief package for the state cinema halls owners, who had suffered major losses owing to the pandemic, according to UP additional chief secretary, information department, Navneet Sehgal.

Nonetheless, the educational institutions, including schools, colleges and coaching centres are still not allowed to function in the state.

Earlier, the UP government had allowed for the conditional reopening of shopping malls and restaurants in the state from June 21, subject to a maximum of 50 per cent capacity. The parks and street food outlets were also allowed to reopen.

In fact, the process of unlock 2.0 in UP outside the containment zone was set in motion from June 1, 2021 in those districts, where the active number of Covid cases was below 600.

So far, the state has administered 32.6 million doses of Covid vaccines with 4.8 million people getting both the doses, he informed.

Yogi government espouses ‘population control’ agenda

Virendra Singh Rawat

Lucknow / July 3, 2021

Escalating efforts to create awareness about population control, the Uttar Pradesh government will now spread the socioeconomic message of ‘Do Bacche Hi Acche’ (Two children are ideal) from door to door.

To execute the plan, the state government will launch ‘Population Stability’ fortnight on the occasion of World Population Day falling July 11 under the aegis of the National Health. 

Earlier, the government had launched a ‘Couple Contact’ fortnight from June 27, which will continue till July 10. In this campaign, the Asha workers will identify couples, who have two or more children, so as to counsel them.

Moreover, a separate team will contact the newlyweds to inform them about the government schemes and benefits under the ‘Hum Do Hamare Do’ theme.

During the mega fortnight drive, special mobile vans will be deployed in the villages to educate people about the perks and benefits associated with family planning.

The targetted people will also be informed about the benefits of keeping a gap of at least three years between two children. At the same time, public representatives will be encouraged to carry out these programmes in each district.