Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took the first cabinet meeting after the cabinet expansion in Uttar Pradesh. In view of the global crisis in this important meeting, after PM Modi’s appeal, CM Yogi has advised the ministers to avoid foreign travel for the next six months. It has also been said that one day all ministers should use public transport.

In the cabinet meeting, CM Yogi Adityanath told the ministers that fuel conservation is a national responsibility and the UP cabinet should be a model for all. Therefore, all ministers should use public transport once a week. CM further said that the use of metro, bus, e-rickshaw and carpooling should be adopted in the work culture.

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‘Avoid traveling abroad for 6 months’

In the meeting, Chief Minister Yogi has advised all the ministers and officials to avoid traveling abroad for the next six months. It has also been said that the vehicle fleet should be reduced by 50 percent.

Emphasis given on work from home

CM said that the temperature of AC in the office should be kept between 24 to 26 degrees Celsius. He emphasized on hybrid meetings, digital work culture and ‘work from home’ at every level in the state. Also encouraged solar energy, PNG, electric vehicles and ‘Vocal for Local’.

‘Give priority to PNG connection’

CM gave instructions to give priority to PNG connection instead of LPG cylinder. In this first meeting of the Chief Minister with the expanded cabinet, the new ministers expressed gratitude to CM Yogi.

Emphasizing on maximum use of digital and virtual mediums in governance and administrative work, he directed that inter-district meetings, training programs and meetings of the standing committees of the Assembly and Legislative Council should be organized in hybrid mode as much as possible.

Promote public transportation- CM Yogi

While giving instructions for need-based use of air conditioners and lifts at the Secretariat and Directorate level, the Chief Minister talked about keeping the temperature of AC between 24 to 26 degrees Celsius and encouraging maximum use of natural light. Along with promoting public transport, rail travel and carpooling, he also stressed on adopting ‘work from home’ system at least two days a week in institutions with more than 50 employees.

There should be widespread use of solar energy- CM

Describing energy conservation and environmental balance as the priority of the government, the Chief Minister directed for widespread use of solar energy and expanding public awareness campaigns to residential colonies, schools and colleges. Emphasizing the need to formulate a new policy to encourage electric vehicles, he talked about promoting clean and energy-efficient transportation system.

Adopt vocal for local- CM

The Chief Minister also gave the message of frugality and encouragement to the local economy in social events. He said that priority should be given to domestic venues for weddings and other functions, so that unnecessary expenditure is stopped and local employment is promoted. Emphasizing on putting into practice the mantra of ‘Vocal for Local’, the Chief Minister said that ministers should use only those items as gifts which are manufactured in Uttar Pradesh. He said that under the ‘One District-One Product’ scheme, a rich range of quality local products is available in the state, which should be given priority.

While giving instructions to give priority to PNG connections instead of LPG cylinders, the Chief Minister said that necessary policy changes should be made immediately for this. He also expressed the need to connect commercial LPG users to PNG.

‘Make minimum use of imported goods’

Emphasizing on minimal use of imported goods, the Chief Minister expressed the need to promote oilseed production, natural farming and balanced use of chemical fertilizers. He talked about reducing the consumption of edible oil and increasing public awareness about it. Also appealed to discourage unnecessary import of gold and make rain water conservation a mass movement.

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The Uttar Pradesh government cabinet on Thursday approved cashless medical treatment schemes for school teachers and staff of basic and secondary education departments, which will provide this facility to about 15 lakh beneficiaries across the state. Addressing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said that 32 proposals were placed before the Cabinet, out of which 30 were approved while two were put on hold.

In a press conference, Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh said that the Cabinet has agreed to implement the cashless medical facility announced by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the employees associated with the basic education sector on Teacher’s Day. This scheme will cover 11,95,391 beneficiaries and it will cost an estimated Rs 358.61 crore.

This includes 4,34,426 teachers of Basic Education Council, 13,380 teachers of government-aided junior high schools, 4,72,735 teachers of self-financed recognized schools under the Council, 1,42,929 ‘Shiksha Mitras’, 24,717 instructors of upper primary schools, 7,479 wardens and full-time and part-time teachers of Kasturba Gandhi Girls’ Schools, under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana. These include 97,344 cooks and 2,00,581 special teachers.

Sandeep Singh said that a verification mechanism will be set up at the district level for teachers working in self-financed recognized schools. Committees headed by District School Inspector and Basic Education Officer will verify the beneficiaries before providing cashless facility.

Khanna said that the Cabinet has also approved a similar cashless medical scheme for teachers under the Secondary Education Department. He said that under this decision, teachers of non-government aided secondary schools and teachers working in government funded secondary schools will be eligible for cashless treatment.

Teachers working on honorarium will also be included in the scheme

Secondary Education Minister Gulab Devi said that teachers working on honorarium and their dependent family members will also be included in this scheme. He further said that the beneficiaries will get treatment facilities not only in government hospitals but also in the In-Patient Department (IPD) of empaneled private hospitals. Khanna said that about 2,97,579 teachers under the Secondary Education Department will benefit from this scheme, on which the estimated expenditure will be around Rs 89.25 crore.