Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath showcased the state’s flagship educational initiative, Project Alankar, during the NDA Chief Ministers’ meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 25 May.
Project Alankar, launched in 2021 to revamp infrastructure in government secondary schools, has received notable praise from several participating chief ministers.
According to reports, many of them expressed interest in replicating this UP government model in their own states.
Project Alankar focuses on achieving full compliance with 35 key infrastructure benchmarks across 2,441 UP govt secondary schools.
These standards cover a broad spectrum of essential amenities, including new classrooms, science and computer labs, libraries, smart classrooms, clean drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities, thereby creating an inclusive and modern learning environment.
The funding for the initiative is sourced from multiple channels, which include state funds, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, village panchayats, urban local bodies, corporate CSR initiatives, and voluntary contributions.
Implementation is monitored at the district level by committees led by district magistrates, while the overall oversight is conducted by the state’s director of education.
Highlighting its impact, the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 notes the observation, saying that clearly, something is changing in UP’s schools, which is encouraging children and promoting active participation.
Beyond secondary schools, the state is also developing Chief Minister Model Schools (pre-primary to Class 12) and Chief Minister Abhyudaya Schools (pre-primary to Class 8) under the same initiative.
It should be noted that these schools are equipped with modern infrastructure, including dedicated learning spaces for early childhood, STEM labs, smart classrooms, solar panels, water conservation units and playgrounds.
Each Abhyudaya School is designed for 450 students and has received an allocation of Rs 1.42 crore.
However, to preserve and modernise traditional education, Project Alankar also includes infrastructure development in Sanskrit schools.
As of now, 11 Sanskrit schools across seven districts have been taken up for restructured, with a broader plan covering 141 such institutions backed by a Rs 14.94 crore sanction from the state government.
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