Lucknow: Launching a fresh attack on the Samajwadi Party, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said the “Saifai Syndicate” no longer had the courage to deprive talented youth of opportunities and warned that anyone seeking bribes from candidates receiving govt jobs would “rot in jail”.Addressing a function in the state capital after distributing appointment letters to 3,567 candidates selected by Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission, Yogi said transparency and merit had replaced corruption and favouritism in the recruitment process.The chief minister said the newly appointed assistant teachers, lecturers, headmasters and principals would play a crucial role in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant and developed India.Highlighting govt’s employment record, Yogi said he had distributed appointment letters to 5,297 youths in the past week alone. “Over the last nine years, appointment letters have been handed over to 9.5 lakh youths. We will provide govt jobs to another 1 lakh youths within the next six months,” he said.In a swipe at the opposition, he remarked: “We will keep distributing appointment letters and the ‘Saifai Syndicate’ can keep counting them.”Referring to senior SP neta Shivpal Yadav, he quipped that if they did not know how to count, they could learn under his guidance.The chief minister cited the example of a youth who recently received an appointment letter after allegedly losing out on the same job in 2015-16 because a bribe of ₹8 lakh had been demanded.According to Yogi, the candidate even sold farmland to arrange the money but was eventually bypassed when another aspirant offered more.“The recruitment process was later cancelled and today he has finally secured the job he deserved,” Yogi said.Referring to the period before 2017, the chief minister alleged that candidates who appeared in examinations often failed to get appointments, while jobs went to people who had not even applied.“That was the height of anarchy, dishonesty and corruption,” he said.Yogi said Uttar Pradesh had transformed from a “BIMARU” state into one of India’s top three state economies, claiming that both the state economy and per capita income had tripled in recent years. He credited the achievement to the energy and talent of the youth.On the ongoing protest by candidates in Prayagraj seeking TGT and PGT recruitment under previous eligibility rules, the chief minister said he had directed the secondary education minister to take up the issue with National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).He said a mechanism should be evolved so that such candidates become eligible to appear in recruitment examinations after a specified period.The chief minister also highlighted reforms in the education sector since 2017, including the implementation of Operation Kayakalp and NIPUN Bharat in primary schools and infrastructure upgrades under Project Alankar in more than 2,300 secondary schools. He said schools now have better buildings, laboratories, libraries and digital learning facilities.Urging the newly appointed teachers to go beyond classroom instruction, Yogi said they should instil values, patriotism and social awareness among students.“Teachers must guide children away from those who seek to divide society and prepare them to provide leadership to the country by 2047,” he said.Teachers bear responsibility of guiding society: PathakWhile congratulating the newly appointed teachers, deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said teachers do not merely educate children but also bear the responsibility of guiding society. India boasts a glorious history of the ‘Guru-Shishya’ (teacher-disciple) tradition, and teachers have always played a pivotal role in imparting life values alongside knowledge.He said prior to 2017, the state faced numerous challenges across various sectors — including law and order, roads, electricity, education and healthcare — whereas the tenure of the current govt has witnessed sweeping transformations in these areas.He said the road network has expanded, electricity availability has improved, and there has been a remarkable increase in the number of medical colleges.Teachers must serve as role models for children: MinisterSecondary education minister Gulab Devi said the selected candidates have earned their appointments through merit, hard work and dedication.“Now, their true responsibility begins,” she said, stressing that the bond between a teacher and a student was emotional.“Parents entrust their children to teachers with the faith that, alongside knowledge, they will instill values, discipline and patriotism, while fostering character building and the development of a well-rounded personality. Teachers should themselves serve as role models for children, as students learn from a teacher’s behaviour, conduct and work style,” she said.The minister said the spirit of New Education Policy-2020 also emphasises the holistic development of students. Govt, she said, is placing special emphasis on quality, transparency and the use of technology in the education system, while also providing various facilities for the welfare of teachers and their families.
