Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath takes a selfie with state finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna and other dignitaries during an event organised to honour the 68,000 Gram Praharis of the state, in Bareilly on Tuesday
Lucknow: Describing them as CCTVs of rural Uttar Pradesh , chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced a hike of Rs 1,000 per month in the honorarium of ‘gram praharis’, taking their monthly remuneration to Rs 3,500.
Before 2017, ‘gram praharis’ were largely ignored by the govts. With around 1.05 lakh revenue villages in the state, the role of ‘gram praharis’ is extremely important to prevent crime and maintain law and order. Referring to districts like Bahraich which have reported human-animal conflict, he said: “They (gram praharis) can play an important role in raising awareness among villagers of potential wildlife threats and informing the administration promptly.
Highlighting the work being done for the welfare of ‘gram praharis’, the CM said, “If police and home guards receive good training and other facilities, ‘gram praharis’ too deserve that opportunity. They should also keep an eye on the activities of land mafia,” he said. Regular interaction among ‘gram praharis’, police and administration will help identify and resolve village-level problems in time,” Yogi said.
A single piece of information can prevent a major mishap. He also directed the home department to ensure that vacant posts of ‘gram praharis’ are filled at the earliest. “Dialogue is the greatest strength in a democratic system. Instead of merely intervening, problems should be resolved through dialogue.
“Earlier, the state’s 25 crore population had to bear the consequences of crimes committed by a handful of people. When travelling outside UP, people had to conceal their identity,” he said, adding that after BJP formed govt in UP in 2017, their biggest concern was to change this perception about the state.
The perception of UP’s law and order has changed,” he said. “People have given a fitting response to those who promoted wrongdoing, while those who followed the path of goodness succeeded in making the state better,” the CM said. “The protectors were the thieves. They committed and orchestrated dacoities. So, from whom could the public have expected justice? People celebrate festivals without fear.
Today, criminals in UP fear the law.