UP Govt Spending 133 Crore On Deepotsav Was Incorrect, Press Release Says They Spent 1.32 Crore

[Correction: Earlier we reported incorrectly that the spending of the UP government on ‘Deepotsav’ was 133 crore. We reported that the Rs 133 crore was spent to light six lakh Diyas in Ayodhya on the banks of Saryu river, as a part of the state government’s Diwali celebration on Sunday, October 27. The figure of Rs 133 crore spent on the celebrations in Ayodhya was based on media reports based on IANS reporting. Contrary to what The Logical Indian and other media reported, the press release by UP Government on its state website says that the spending on the Deepostav was approximately 1.32 crore. The press release mentions the government’s spending as Rs 132.72 lakhs which comes to around 1.33 crores and not 133 crores. We at The Logical Indian apologise for the mistake and the incorrect reporting. The headline has also been changed to reflect the same.]

The report:

The Uttar Pradesh government spent Rs 133 crore to light six lakh Diyas in Ayodhya on the banks of Saryu river, as a part of the state government’s Diwali celebration on Sunday, October 27.

The government created a Guinness world record for lighting Diyas. But this year’s celebration comes at a time when state government departments from Health to Para-military are dealing with a cash crunch.

Last week, the Uttar Pradesh government fired 25,000 home guards because the state government didn’t have money to pay their salaries. The decision came after the Supreme Court ordered the state government to pay daily allowances of UP Home Guards at par with the UP Police constable. However, the government withdrew its order last Thursday and said it will continue with the home guards

The cabinet meeting in which the amount for Deepotsav was approved, the government also mulled on the fate of Karmachari Kalyan Nigam. According to a News18 report, the government may shut the organisation and give the employees the option to either chose VRS or to move into other government departments. As per reports, the employees haven’t been paid salaries for the past 11 months.

Last month ambulance drivers protested against the unpaid salaries for over three months, reinstating of some of the drivers who were terminated earlier, and fixed eight-hour working duration. The state government later introduced the Essential Services Maintenance Act, which forbids them from going on strike. The act infuriated the drivers even further bringing the emergency services to a standstill in Lucknow reported Newsclick.

The Yogi government came under fire when a video of salt and roti being served as a midday meal in government school surfaced. Students were seen eating roti with salt without any curry, dal or pulses. The video not only contradicted the government’s claims of serving fruits, pulses and other nutrition as mentioned on its website but also revealed the status-quo of the state government schools.

There were also media reports about government school students from class VI to VIII not receiving textbooks even after four months of school reopening.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik celebrated Diwali with orphan children. He also instructed the officials at the Chief Minister’s office to celebrate the festival at various childcare institutions.

But the Yogi Adityanath government’s grand celebrations took over the news media.

The Chief Minister has been organising the Deepotsav or the ‘festival of lamps’ since he came to power in 2017. But the celebration which used to be organised by the UP tourism department till now will henceforth be a state government affair reported Times Travel.

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