Lucidity in words, impartiality in conduct, and punctilious understanding of administrative subjects, quite sprightly for his age, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik as eighty four years old makes it a point to publish his work reports. He talked with Sunil Rai, Bureau Chief, Panchjanya, about his experiences and tasks. Highlights of the talk follow:
Many universities in the State didn’t even see convocations before you turned up as the Chancellor. Academic activities were bleak. Now, it all seems lively and spirited.
I have ensured that all the universities see timely convocations after my arrival here. 23 out of 25 universities have organised their convocations so far. Two new universities could not organise their convocation this year. It is satisfactory as of now. As far as academic activities are concerned, we have attended to it significantly. Vacant teaching positions are being filled up rapidly. We need to motivate students for taking up research.
We are seriously considering prospects of boosting employment opportunities for researchers by placing their dissertations in e-libraries and showcasing marks index online. Uttar Pradesh Government has founded Deendayal Chair under which grants of 50 lakh to 2 crore will be provided for research activities.
Sarva Shiksha and Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaigns are socio-political drives. How do you assess them?
Boys are lagging behind while girls are shining in the educational field. In the 2016-17 session some 15, 60,375 degrees were awarded in various convocations, out of which 51 per cent, i.e. 7, 97, 646 were for girls. Out of 1,653 medals which were given for outstanding performance, 1,085 were awarded to girls. Sarva Shiksha campaign which commenced under the Atal Behari Vajpayee Government led to great positive changes in literacy field. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the campaign of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao has also started showing promising signs. Let me add an interesting anecdote from a convocation ceremony. I saw that students used to appear in gown and hat for receiving their honours. I made an appeal that Bharatiya costumes should be preferred. It led to significant changes. Some universities also organised competitions for costume designing suggesting that other students would wear the winner’s offering.
You didn’t sign and approve the MLC list prepared by the previous Government. What were you indicating then?
The names which were sent to me during the tenure of earlier, when examined, it occurred that none of them had any notable contribution in the fields of science, society or culture. Moreover, some of them were booked under serious charges. Thus, controversial names had to be taken back. It happened for the first time in the country when Raj Bhavan explicitly suggested that State Government cannot get wrongs approved. Secondly, Samajwadi Party Government made an attempt to bestow the cabinet status on Chairman of the Minority Commission when it is not a constitutional precedence. Thus, even this one was also not approved under my signature.
There was also a controversy regarding the appointment of ombudsman. What was the reason behind that?
If found guilty in his inquiry, ombudsman sends his report to Chief Minister and Chief Secretary. If no action is taken on the report within three months, ombudsman sends it to the Governor. I was called an ‘active Governor’ when I acted upon the report of the ombudsman as and when it was sent to me. Similarly, in another instance, ombudsman was being given long extensions in Uttar Pradesh for long. Meanwhile, the Apex Court asked that ombudsman should be appointed within six months. But even after six months no new appointment was made. It was because no consensus could surface among the Chief Justice, Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition. Afterwards, government brought in an ordinance to push out the Chief Justice from the process. But, I didn’t give my approval soon and three of them had to sit for one more meeting. Meanwhile, a PIL was filed in the Apex Court regarding the appointment of ombudsman. The Apex Court delivered its judgement and directed for the appointment within a month, not to be done again. Lastly, the Apex Court asked for all the proposed names and selected one among them. However, Chief Justice was not in agreement with that name, and thus, another person was appointed.
Whenever you used to express your opinion on the law and order situations in the State, Samajwadi Party Government used to get provoked. What are your views of the situations now?
My views on the law and order situations were dubbed as criticism by people in the Samajwadi Party Government. It was also necessitated by the fact that some of them had criminal backgrounds. Still I say, that the situation must improve more. The only difference is that now Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath takes my view as an advice.
Late implementations of the government’s schemes lead to higher input cost. You have raised your concerns about that. Did it bring any change in the working?
Exactly. Many times I have seen that work didn’t start after Bhoomi Poojan. The ceremony has to be repeated again after months. Actually, government work never takes time into count. This results in larger input costs too. When I was in the BJP, I had been given many responsibilities. I had the responsibility of BJP’s good governance cell during 2011-14. I used to guide various Ministers in meetings and always suggested that inauguration of the projects must be outlined on the occasion of the laying of foundation stone. This all has led to gradual improvement.
You were also a Minister of Railway. How railways can be made world class? Which other facilities should be added to local trains?
I have travelled in Mumbai local trains. I had a job then and I used to reside in suburbs. I was a daily commuter in local trains only. I founded Goregaon Residential Association in 1962 and struggled for the passengers. I became the State Railway Minister in 1999 and after some time when Nitish Kumar resigned after an accident in Punjab, I was given the independent charge. I started a local train which was solely for women seeing their difficulties. One such local train is operational in Central Railways and the other one in Western Railways. The first and the last carriage in locals are for the luggage, I made one carriage reserved for fisher women during 9-11 am. Every Member of Parliament can table private member bill. Under this, I tabled a bill to motivate breast feeding. Though I was in opposition, government approved the bill with minor amendments.
You have mentioned in your book ‘Charaivaiti Charaivaiti’ that Dawood Ibrahim’s aid was taken to ensure your electoral loss.
Dawood was one of the reasons. There were other reasons as well. Shrimati Mrinal Gore of Samajwadi Party is famous in Mumbai as ‘Paniwali Bai’. I defeated her in 1989. Thereafter I was elected from the same constituency five times. Mrinal Gore campaigned against me. Christians used to vote for me, but willingly Sonia Gandhi’s public meeting was organised in Christian majority areas. The rumour was spread that Pope had stated that Ram Naik should be pushed to lose. Though people elected Govinda over me, they later regretted, the choice.
You were diagnosed with Cancer twenty five years ago, a mention of which breaks down people. How did you overcome that? How did it become
possible?
I was diagnosed with cancer in 1993. I have two daughters, out of which one is a cancer research scientist. I have known two people in my life that had cancer but they fought that with determination and inner force. These two men were Golwalkar-ji and Ram Das Kadsakar from Maharashtra who was organisational secretary. These two fought cancer and remained healthy for long.
You live with a lot of simplicity in the luxurious Raj Bhavan. Why?
My world in Mumbai was limited in the space of two rooms. Raj Bhavan is huge. When I don’t go out for some programmes, I meet people here between 3-6 pm. When I was an Assembly member, I used to publish a report called ‘Ram Naik in Legislative Assembly’. Now when I am the Governor, I do the same with the title ‘Ram Naik in Raj Bhavan’.
How has been your experience in Uttar Pradesh?
It has been good enough. The people of the State are fond of me. n
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