97% UP schools get modern infra | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Almost 97% of state-run primary and secondary schools have been equipped with basic facilities like drinking water, toilets, handwashing stations, electricity and furniture, etc. Thanks to govt’s ambitious projects—Operation Kayakalp and Project Alankar— there have been sweeping changes in the education system. The two models have also been recognised by NITI Ayog as initiatives that can be replicated in other states, said a govt spokesperson.While Operation Kayakalp aimed to refurbish 1.3 lakh state-run schools on 19 indicators, 2,295 schools were mapped under Project Alankar across 27 parameters and upgraded. These schools now feature smart classes, computer labs, Wi-Fi, laboratories, libraries and modern furniture. Beyond academics, students benefit from playgrounds, open gyms, multipurpose halls, art and craft rooms and vocational training facilities.Core infrastructure has also been enhanced with principal and staff rooms, boundary walls, office spaces, cycle stands and drinking water facilities. Safety and sustainability have been prioritised through fire safety equipment, CCTV surveillance, biometric attendance, rainwater harvesting, and solar panels, said the spokesperson.Govt stated in a release that prior to 2017, most schools in UP were in dire straits—dilapidated buildings, lack of basic facilities and declining student enrolment. Education was the last priority, it said, adding, children were deprived of even the most essential resources. “Today, schools in villages are no longer just govt structures; they have become most vibrant and fully equipped centres of the Gram Sabha. With modern facilities, safe campuses, and a welcoming environment, parents’ trust in these schools has grown manifold,” said the spokesperson.
