UP launches cash prizes for cleanliness, greenery

Uttar Pradesh Thursday announced cash prizes for cleanliness and greenery drives in government hospitals in the state capital.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said other than this incentive, a campaign is being launched to reward the best municipal wards in Lucknow, Mathura and Agra.

The decision was taken to encourage and give impetus to the clean-green mission of the state government, he said.

Of all the government hospitals in Lucknow, including the King George's Medical University and SGPGI, the ones promoting greenery the most will be rewarded Rs.50 lakh, the second will get Rs.30 lakh and the third will get Rs.20 lakh.

The prize money will be equally distributed among sweepers, gardeners and ward boys, and all-category employees like permanent, temporary, and those outsourced or on contractual basis.

Yadav said a drive will also be launched to keep wards clean in Lucknow, Agra and Mathura.

The best wards in Lucknow and Agra will get Rs.50 lakh, two second best wards will get Rs.30 lakh each, while three third best wards will get Rs.20 lakh each.

In Mathura, one ward will be picked for each category. The best will get Rs.50 lakh, the second best Rs.30 lakh and the third best Rs.20 lakh.

Political circles in Uttar Pradesh are looking at Yadav's campaign as an answer to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who recently launched his 'Swachh Bharat' drive in Uttar Pradesh during his visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi.

Modi had nominated nine people in the state, including Yadav, to take the mission forward.

Yadav has so far not taken up the invite, and has on many occasions in the past ridiculed the Swachh Bharat drive. He has also accused Modi of launching the campaign to sweep under the carpet real issues like unemployment, corruption and black money.