Daijiworld Media Network - Ayodhya

Ayodhya, Sep 8: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday alleged that the supply of nutritious food to Anganwadi centres in the state was controlled by "mafias" during the erstwhile Samajwadi Party (SP) government.

Addressing an event in Ayodhya to honour Anganwadi workers, Adityanath announced several welfare measures for them, including annual cashless health insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh.

He also announced an increase in the monthly honorarium of Anganwadi workers to Rs 12,000 and that of Anganwadi helpers to Rs 6,000. Smartphones will also be provided to all Anganwadi workers, he said.

Recalling the condition of Anganwadi centres around nine years ago, Adityanath said they were "worn-out" and "disorganised".

"I still remember the situation of Anganwadi centres nine years back. They were worn-out, disorganised," he said.

He alleged that proper food did not reach the centres, resulting in Anganwadi workers being blamed for shortcomings in the system.

"Proper food didn't reach the centres, leading to disrepute of the Anganwadi staff. This cheating was carried out by the then government," he said, alleging that nutritious food meant for the centres was "controlled by 'Mafias' back then".

"The reach of the Mafia was such that it could influence any system. Nobody could dare speak before it. As a result, the Anganwadi centres were not taken care of. There were complaints that it didn't get nutritious food on time. The centres had to bear the consequences of somebody else's actions," he said.

The Chief Minister alleged that the previous SP government and the mafia "together destroyed the system", leaving Anganwadi workers to face the consequences.

He said that Anganwadi centres are now technologically equipped and claimed that his government has given an "organised look" to more than 70,000 such centres across the state.

"We have asked to ensure separate infrastructure for each Anganwadi centre in the state for a healthy childhood," Adityanath said, adding that the centres would form the foundation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Viksit Bharat'.

Referring to Modi's comparison of Anganwadi workers with Lord Krishna's foster mother Yashoda in 2014, Adityanath said he chose Ayodhya, the sacred land of Lord Ram, to launch the new schemes as a mark of respect for their work.

The Chief Minister also highlighted development in Ayodhya under the BJP-led government.

"Ten years back, there was no electricity, roads, cleanliness or any other facility in Ayodhya. There was anarchy all around," he claimed.

Adityanath further alleged that electricity supply in Uttar Pradesh was controlled by a "syndicate" before the BJP came to power in the state.

Targeting the SP, he accused the party of opposing development projects in Ayodhya, including roads, the railway station and airport.

"They (SP) were against the construction of roads, railway station and even airport in Ayodhya Dham," he said.

Describing the SP as "opposed to development", Adityanath also accused the SP and Congress of opposing the construction of the Ram Temple.