Lucknow, August 20: In response to ongoing protests by students at the Jay Prakash Narayan Schools operated by the Social Welfare Department, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a review meeting on Thursday with departmental minister Aseem Arun and senior officials. During the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for significant changes in the management and operation of these schools.
He directed the preparation of clear guidelines, expedited recruitment processes for vacant teaching positions, and necessary actions towards forming societies for better school management.
The Chief Minister stated that students in these residential schools should receive a better academic environment and essential facilities. He also stressed the importance of ensuring the availability of necessary staff, in addition to teachers, based on student needs.
It was reported during the meeting that before 2017, there were 93 Jay Prakash Narayan Schools in the state, which increased to 103 by the 2025-26 academic year. Of these, 59 schools are affiliated with CBSE and 44 with the UP Board. The Chief Minister called for a swift process to fill vacant teaching positions to prevent disruption in students’ education.
Additionally, the Chief Minister reviewed the Old Age Pension Scheme, instructing officials to promptly verify pending applications from eligible seniors and ensure they receive their pensions. He emphasized that eligible elderly individuals should not face unnecessary delays, and the entire process, from application to pension approval, should be completed in a timely manner.
It was noted that the number of beneficiaries under the National Old Age Pension Scheme has risen from 3.747 million in 2017-18 to 6.750 million by 2025-26. Currently, around 1.150 million new applications are pending.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the Mukhyamantri Abhyudaya Scheme, directing that quality guidance be provided to students preparing for competitive exams, thereby enhancing the scheme’s effectiveness. This initiative operates through 163 centers across all 75 districts, employing 1,783 panel teachers, with 23,801 students registered for various competitive exams, including UPSC, PCS, NEET, JEE, NDA/CDS. Four Centers of Excellence are also part of this scheme.
While reviewing scholarship distribution, the Chief Minister issued clear instructions to ensure that no eligible student is deprived of scholarship benefits. He ordered the immediate reopening of the application portal for students who missed out on pre-matric and post-matric scholarships, with a deadline to transfer scholarship funds to students’ accounts by October 2.
The meeting revealed that approximately 316,000 students, previously deprived of scholarships for various reasons, will be given another opportunity to apply. This group includes 31,836 students from government institutions, 69,631 from aided institutions, and 246,426 from private institutions.
This review meeting, prompted by complaints regarding the management of Jay Prakash Narayan Schools and student protests, is seen as a significant step by the government towards improving the system. The Chief Minister made it clear that there should be no compromise on the education, safety, and facilities for students studying in residential schools.
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