Varanasi, July 9: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the Mukhyamantri Shikshak Cashless Chikitsa Yojana in Varanasi, providing comprehensive health security to 12 lakh teaching personnel, non-teaching staff, and their dependents. During the state-wide event organized across 404 locations, the Chief Minister also transferred Rs 1,320 crore directly into the bank accounts of parents of 1.10 crore students, allocating Rs 1,200 per student to procure uniforms, shoes, socks, sweaters, school bags, and stationery.
In a significant move to bolster institutional welfare, the Basic and Secondary Education Departments signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Bank of India to extend social security benefits to 10 lakh teachers and contractual employees. Under this agreement, permanent educators and staff earning over Rs 10,000 monthly will receive a Group Term Insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh, which encompasses substantial personal accident, permanent disability, and air accident protections. Contractual employees within the same salary bracket will receive personal accident insurance ranging from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 80 lakh, while staff earning below Rs 10,000 will be supported through zero-balance account benefits.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister maintained that the administration is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of the academic community. “You take care of the children, and the Government will take care of you,” the Chief Minister declared, while urging other public departments and private enterprises to introduce similar social security frameworks for their workforces.
Turning attention toward academic discipline, the Chief Minister affirmed that teachers bear a vital national responsibility in guiding the younger generation. He asserted that educators must ensure schools remain clean and that students regularly wear their prescribed uniforms and maintain proper daily habits, which would simultaneously elevate the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission. Assurance was also given that the financial benefits for student supplies would continue to cover new admissions seamlessly.
Reflecting on the historical trajectory of the regional educational framework, the Chief Minister noted that the education system previously faced structural challenges that disrupted the academic calendar. He stated that past examination systems often prolonged processing times for months, whereas contemporary administrative reforms ensure examinations are completed within 14 days and results are declared within the next 15 days.
The administration further indicated that previous practices compromising academic integrity have been systematically dismantled to secure the future of the youth. The Chief Minister asserted that proper educational foundations are indispensable for national development, referencing the ongoing implementation of the National Education Policy. He praised the collective dedication of educators over the past nine years under initiatives such as Operation Kayakalp, NIPUN Bharat, and Project Alankar, the latter of which has successfully revitalized nearly 1,000 schools with advanced laboratories, digital libraries, and modern infrastructure.
The event concluded with representation from various state dignitaries, including state ministers Anil Rajbhar, Gulab Devi, and Sandeep Singh, alongside local legislators and administrative officials.
