Anandiben Patel, the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, has all the credentials of an educationist par excellence. The 82-year old Patel, who was a teacher before joining politics, is a recipient of highest national teacher award (1990) and then as the education minister of Gujarat (2002-2007) and then as the state’s Chief Minister (2014-16) her performance in the field of education is still being praised.
Therefore, when she entered UP’s Raj Bhavan as the 20th Governor of the state in July 2019, it was instinctively expected of her playing a role in education sphere of India’s largest state as chancellor of universities and otherwise as a public figure. On August 4 speaking at the inauguration of a private B-school in Greater Noida, she actually revealed some of it during her address.
Governor Patel is helping anganwadis in the state by arranging toys and other educative and recreational aids. “Before agreeing to come to this event, I had told the organizers that only if they make a commitment to help a few hundred anaganwadis, will I accept their invitation,” she said while setting the tone of her mission. She has herself prepared a model kit for anganwadi workers that contains basic things like thread and needle, nail cutter, antiseptic solution to first aid with the aim of promoting health and hygiene of children at these centres, mostly attended by toddlers of economically weaker sections .
According to her, independent of government, she has made it a point for asking businessmen, traders, institutions, NGOs and others to support and empower anaganwadi workers to take good care of these children. “One handholding gesture inspires many and by this way we can provided for the remotest corners with a collective effort,” she said while making a suggestion for families to celebrate at least one birthday at an anganwadi centre. “See the joy will you’ll bring to the group of children and yourself!”
UP Governor also revealed how her plan of getting a group of 50 secondary school students from government schools to convocation ceremonies of universities and making them sit in the front rows is changing the aspirations of the children in the state. “When they know, what higher education is about and how the graduates are praised and awarded, excites them and helps in their motivation to continue education and hard work.” She also cited examples from Lucknow where beggary by children has been contained to a large extent by admitting these children to schools.
