Lucknow/Bhadohi: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya paid rich tributes to freedom fighter and former MLC Babu Parasnath Maurya by unveiling his statue at his ancestral village, Ghanshyampur (Radhaswami Dham post), on the occasion of his birth centenary and “Garib Diwas” program. He highlighted Babu Parasnath Maurya’s invaluable contributions to India’s freedom struggle and his lifelong commitment to the multidimensional development of Bhadohi.
Upon arrival at Bhadohi Police Lines Helipad, Deputy CM Maurya was warmly welcomed with floral bouquets and shawls by Member of Parliament Dr. Vinod Bind, District Panchayat President Aniruddha Tripathi, MLAs Dinanath Bhaskar and Vipul Dubey, former MLA Ravindranath Tripathi, District Magistrate Shailesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Manglik, CDO Dr. Shivakant Dwivedi, and other dignitaries.
Later, at Kishundevpur North Lane, he also unveiled the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Babu Parasnath Maurya, offering floral tributes to the great leaders.
Addressing a large gathering at Ramleela Ground, Kishundevpur, the Deputy CM inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 125 development projects worth ₹6888.24 lakh for the district. He also launched the innovative “Protinla” nutrition kits, produced by self-help groups (SHGs), marking a first-of-its-kind initiative in Uttar Pradesh.
Maurya distributed keys of PM/CM Housing Scheme units, approval letters, and demo cheques to beneficiaries of various welfare schemes. He lauded the stalls set up by SHGs, especially their efforts in empowering women and pregnant women, and handed over nutrition kits to expectant mothers.
The Deputy CM underlined that under the double-engine government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, women associated with SHGs are moving towards self-reliance and playing a pivotal role in strengthening the economy of their families.
Key distributions made during the program included:
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Keys to 10 beneficiaries under PM/CM Rural Housing Scheme.
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Demo cheques to 3 beneficiaries under National Rural Livelihood Mission’s Community Investment Fund (CIF).
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Thermal printer devices to 3 electricity bill collection workers under the Electricity Department convergence program.
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₹70 lakh demo cheque to Anurag Jaiswal (Vriddhi Enterprises) under the Bakery Industry Scheme by the Horticulture and Food Processing Department.
Maurya inaugurated 101 projects built under the MGNREGA scheme, including ration warehouses and Anganwadi centers, and stressed the importance of wide-scale publicity for government initiatives.
Special exhibitions at the event showcased ODOP (One District One Product) initiatives, models of PM Housing Scheme, agricultural advancements, horticulture products, and child welfare programs.
Highlighting tourism promotion, a scenic painting of Sitamadhi, Bhadohi’s key tourist site, and carpet artwork featuring images of dignitaries were presented to the Deputy CM.
In a symbolic move reflecting local aspirations, Maurya assured residents that the block name “Deegh” would soon be officially renamed to “Sitamadhi”, a proposal he instructed district officials to expedite. He also promised the completion of a bridge over the Ganga River, addressing a major local demand.
During his address, Maurya expressed deep grief over the tragic terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, condemning the cowardly act and assuring a strong retaliatory response similar to the surgical strikes following Uri and Pulwama attacks. He emphasized national unity beyond party and caste lines and praised the Modi government’s efforts to strengthen India’s security.
Maurya spoke about landmark initiatives like the abrogation of Article 370 and highlighted how it led to a surge of over two crore tourists visiting Kashmir. He stressed the need for a united front against terrorism and underscored the importance of “One Nation, One Election” for saving national resources.
He also elaborated on the Waqf Amendment Act, emphasizing its role in advancing the Muslim community’s development.
In their speeches, MP Dr. Vinod Bind, District Panchayat President Aniruddha Tripathi, and MLAs Dinanath Bhaskar and Vipul Dubey, along with local leaders Deepak Mishra and Kunwar Pramod Chandra Maurya, praised Babu Parasnath Maurya’s legacy and reiterated their commitment to public welfare under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Yogi.
The event also saw enthusiastic participation from community leaders, SHG members, and a large number of local citizens.
