The Chief Minister's Office of Uttar Pradesh announced on Friday, June 19, 2026, that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in a major public programme in Ayodhya, unveiling a grand statue of freedom fighter Veerangana Jhalkari Bai and inaugurating or laying the foundation stones of 126 development projects worth more than ₹378 crore, including a new government Ayurvedic medical college and hospital.

Context

The official post, shared in Hindi, declared the event a celebration of 'virasat ka samman, vikas ka abhiyan' — 'honouring heritage, a campaign of development'. At the ceremony, beneficiaries of various public welfare schemes were also handed certificates of entitlement, underlining the state government's effort to link cultural commemoration with direct citizen welfare delivery.

Jhalkari Bai was a warrior from the Koli community who fought alongside Rani Lakshmibai during the 1857 revolt against British rule. Her statue's unveiling in Ayodhya adds to a series of commemorations the Uttar Pradesh government has organised across districts honouring heroes of the first war of independence.

Policy Backdrop

The centrepiece infrastructure announcement is the Rajkiya Ayurvedic Mahavidyalaya evam Chikitsalaya — a state government Ayurvedic medical college and hospital — being established in Ayodhya as part of the broader push to expand traditional medicine education and healthcare access in the region. The project aligns with the National AYUSH Mission, launched in 2014, which has supported the establishment of Ayurvedic colleges across Indian states including Uttar Pradesh.

Since the 2019 Supreme Court judgment paved the way for the Ram Temple construction, Ayodhya has seen accelerated state investment in civic infrastructure, heritage sites, and health and education facilities. The 126 projects inaugurated or foundation-stoned on Friday represent one of the larger single-day project launches in the city's recent development calendar.

Stakeholders and Impact

Ayodhya residents stand to benefit directly from the new Ayurvedic college and hospital, which is expected to expand access to traditional healthcare for the district and surrounding areas. Students of Ayurveda across Uttar Pradesh gain a new institutional option as the state works to mainstream AYUSH-based medical education.

The Koli community, for whom Jhalkari Bai holds deep cultural and historical significance, gains prominent public recognition through the statue installation in one of India's most symbolically important cities. CM Yogi Adityanath stated at the event that 'it is the responsibility of all of us to honour and preserve our heritage, great personalities, and centres of faith,' according to the official post.

The Uttar Pradesh government reiterated its stated commitment to advancing 'the preservation and promotion of historical heritage alongside public welfare works, in coordination of development and heritage.'

What's Next

The operationalisation of the Rajkiya Ayurvedic Mahavidyalaya evam Chikitsalaya will be a key milestone to track, including its student intake capacity, staffing, and patient outreach timelines. Observers will also watch for the rollout of welfare scheme benefits to the certificate recipients from the June 19 event.

The broader pattern of pairing heritage commemoration with infrastructure investment in Ayodhya suggests further statue installations and AYUSH facility expansions are likely as the state continues its dual 'vikas aur virasat' — development and heritage — agenda ahead of future electoral cycles.