Subhechcha Ganguly 
A controversy has erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur after a school allegedly denied a fee waiver to a Class 7 student, despite an assurance from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The school, Saraswati Shishu Mandir—run by Vidya Bharati, the education wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)—reportedly told the girl there was “no provision” for such a waiver, triggering political backlash.
The student, Pankhuri Tripathi, had approached CM Yogi during a janta darbar on July 1, seeking help after her father lost his job due to a serious leg injury. The Chief Minister, according to Pankhuri, offered her a chocolate and personally assured her that her education would not suffer.
However, when Pankhuri and her father visited the school, they were allegedly met with rude behavior and a categorical denial of any fee waiver. “They told us the school cannot function if fees are waived for everyone, and that teachers have to be paid,” Pankhuri told NDTV. The school charges ₹1,650 per month, and her dues amount to ₹18,000.
Visibly emotional, Pankhuri recounted how her father broke down after the school authorities’ behavior but said she still believes in the CM’s promise. “No one has ever spoken to him like that before. But I trust the Chief Minister. I will work hard and become an IAS officer,” she said.
The issue has sparked a political row, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slamming the ruling BJP. “This is the truth behind BJP’s fake slogans of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. We request the BJP not to lie to children,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Interestingly, Gorakhpur is not just any constituency—it’s CM Yogi Adityanath’s stronghold and home to the Gorakhnath Math, where he serves as head priest. The school’s ties to the RSS, the ideological backbone of the BJP, have added fuel to the controversy.
Pankhuri’s father, Rajiv Kumar Tripathi, responded to Akhilesh Yadav’s post but reiterated his faith in CM Yogi, stating, “We are associated with the Math and Maharaj ji. We believe he will ensure my daughter’s education continues.”
The incident has raised questions about the implementation of welfare promises and the reality faced by families on the ground, especially when political assurances fail to translate into action.
