Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to register first information reports (FIRs) against those allegedly spreading misinformation about schools and colleges through misleading videos, while also calling for on-the-spot inspections of basic facilities in government schools.
The directive came amid growing attention to the condition of government schools in Uttar Pradesh, including viral videos purportedly showing poor-quality mid-day meals being served to students.
At a meeting with senior state government officials and field-level officers, Yogi stressed the need to verify complaints on the ground instead of relying solely on information circulating online.
He directed officials to conduct spot inquiries into the quality of mid-day meals and check the condition of toilets meant for boys and girls. The chief minister also called for better facilities and a conducive educational environment for students.
Yogi asks DMs to inspect schools regularly
Yogi Adityanath instructed district magistrates to ensure regular inspections of schools and monitor whether basic facilities are actually available to students.
The directions include checks on clean drinking water, separate toilets for boys and girls, hand-washing facilities, electricity, kitchen sheds, boundary walls and mid-day meal kitchens.
Officials have also been asked to ensure that students receive quality meals regularly under the PM Poshan scheme.
The state government has further directed authorities to promptly verify complaints received through social media and other platforms. Accounts found to be deliberately spreading misleading information could face action, including FIRs.
Schools had restricted entry of outsiders
The latest directions come after education officials in several Uttar Pradesh districts issued orders restricting the entry of outsiders, including YouTubers, into government primary and upper-primary schools.
The move followed the circulation of videos highlighting alleged shortcomings in school meals and infrastructure.
However, some district education officers later amended their orders. Revised instructions allowed parents and members of school management committees to visit schools and seek information about the institutions and their children’s progress.
CJP’s #SchoolThikKaro campaign adds to spotlight
The developments have coincided with the nationwide #SchoolThikKaro campaign launched by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has sought to draw attention to alleged deficiencies in government schools.
The campaign has generated controversy in several states, with CJP members facing restrictions and clashes during some school visits.
In Rajasthan, a CJP visit to a dilapidated government school reportedly turned violent. The state government subsequently ordered the construction of a new building for the school.
In Uttar Pradesh, the issue has also drawn political attention. Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh has claimed that the campaign exposed the condition of government schools in Ayodhya and urged people to document problems at schools in their areas.
Focus on infrastructure during monsoon
Chief Secretary S P Goyal has separately directed divisional commissioners and district magistrates to improve infrastructure, cleanliness and educational facilities in government schools.
With waterlogging and sanitation becoming concerns during the rainy season, officials have been instructed to organise special cleanliness drives, ensure water availability in toilets and maintain functional kitchens and electrical equipment.
The administration has also been asked to coordinate on road connectivity, drainage and the safe shifting of high- and low-tension electrical lines passing over school buildings.
The government has emphasised that complaints about school facilities should be verified promptly, while action should also be taken against those found deliberately circulating misleading information.
