Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 15 (IANS): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that an improved sense of hygiene and construction of toilets in large numbers have helped check Encephalitis death in eastern Uttar Pradesh this year.

Encephalitis, which used to claim hundreds of lives of children in the eastern part of the state each year, has registered a 95 per cent decline in 2020, mainly due to sustained efforts of his government, Adityanath added.

"In eastern Uttar Pradesh, we spearheaded many initiatives for the welfare of people. From 1977-2017, at least 50,000 children died due to encephalitis in the region. Every year, 500-1,500 cases of deaths were reported. Now when toilets have been built, 21 deaths took place this year and we'll make sure that these too do not happen. The government has prepared plans on the principle that everyone has a right to live," the chief minister said at a function in Gorakhpur on Saturday.

He said that no section of society should be deprived of getting benefits of government schemes.

"No section of the society should not be left out and deprived of the benefits of the government schemes. We work on the motive of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. People are getting benefits from government schemes," he said.

He further said that the poor should be integrated with the government schemes and that the real Diwali would be to deliver the benefits of the schemes to them.

Yogi Adityanath said, "The real Diwali is to deliver to the needy, the benefits they deserve. I feel that in Diwali when the youth, poor or children connect with our initiatives, then real Diwali is celebrated. It is imperative that the poor receive the benefits of the government schemes."

Yogi Adityanath further said. "We should all strive to make 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. There should be an emphasis on making local products. People should buy local products."