Prayagraj

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday announced a major gift for sanitation and healthcare workers who served during the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh 2025. The Chief Minister provided insurance certificates from the 'Swachh Kumbh Fund' along with gifts to the sanitation and healthcare workers. He also announced that all sanitation and healthcare workers who participated in the grand Maha Kumbh 2025 event would receive an additional bonus of ₹10,000 from the state government.

CM Yogi also declared that starting in April, the state government would establish a corporation through which all sanitation workers, healthcare workers, and other workers who were not receiving minimum wages would be provided with ₹16,000 per month by the government. This amount would be directly transferred to their bank accounts via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).

Additionally, CM Yogi announced that every sanitation and healthcare worker would be covered under a health insurance scheme worth ₹5,00,000 through the Ayushman Bharat or Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana. He stated that the entire state government was present to honour these workers for their contributions during this grand and divine event, which took place from January 13 to February 26.

महाकुम्भ-2025, प्रयागराज के साथ जुड़े हुए जो भी स्वच्छता एवं स्वास्थ्य कर्मी थे, उन सभी को हम लोग ₹10,000 का एक अतिरिक्त बोनस देंगे... pic.twitter.com/b3aSdF9VNE

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) February 27, 2025

Sanitation and healthcare workers played a crucial role in making this event grand and divine. The government assured that it would continue working for their welfare. CM Yogi emphasised that when a task is carried out with a team spirit, the results are extraordinary just like what was witnessed at the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh 2025. He urged all sanitation workers to present the cleanliness program in a new way and launch a special cleanliness campaign. He called on all officials and employees to actively participate in this campaign.

Expressing gratitude towards the sacred Ganga River, CM Yogi mentioned that the entire cabinet was overwhelmed while honouring and dining with the sanitation workers. He recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Prayagraj on December 13 for the inauguration of the Maha Kumbh and had provided significant guidance before and during the event. Officials and ministries of the central government worked tirelessly alongside the Uttar Pradesh government to take the event to new heights of success. Every department contributed significantly, both in terms of effort and finances, to ensure the transformation of Prayagraj. Today, due to the Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj shines as a smart city.

🚨 Prayagraj — UP CM Yogi Adityanath along with other ministers have lunch with 'Sanitation workers.' 👏

— Thanks to Yogi Adityanath ji for honoring the 'Unsung hero' of Mahakumbh 💖 pic.twitter.com/P52aINKn98

— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) February 27, 2025

CM Yogi noted that everyone who visited Prayagraj appreciated two key aspects: the cleanliness and the behaviour of the police. It felt as if the entire event belonged to everyone, with families coming together to make it successful.

The residents of Prayagraj embraced the event as their own, setting up community kitchens at various places, welcoming guests, and becoming a part of the celebration despite any personal difficulties. In a city that normally houses 25 to 30 lakh (2.5 to 3 million) people, an influx of 7 to 8 crore (70 to 80 million) people created an enormous challenge.

He compared it to a household with five members suddenly accommodating ten guests, which would be overwhelming. Yet, in Prayagraj, the local residents accepted the situation with patience and joy, making the event their own. Inspired by Prayagraj, the entire state contributed. Wherever pilgrims and saints traveled, people of Uttar Pradesh warmly welcomed them. CM Yogi deeply appreciated the exemplary hospitality displayed by the citizens.

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Highlighting new opportunities for tourism in the state, CM Yogi said that Maha Kumbh had introduced several spiritual tourism circuits within Uttar Pradesh. One such circuit connects Prayagraj with the shrine of Maa Vindhyavasini and Kashi. During the Maha Kumbh, millions gathered in Prayagraj, and similarly, Maa Vindhyavasini Dham saw a daily footfall of 5 to 7 lakh (500,000 to 700,000) devotees. Likewise, the Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi welcomed 10 to 15 lakh (1 to 1.5 million) devotees per day.