Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, launched the second phase of School Chalo Abhiyan-2026 from Saharanpur, calling on teachers, civil society, and elected representatives to convert the enrolment drive into a mass movement. The campaign, first introduced in 2017, aims to bring every out-of-school child into the educational mainstream within the next 15 days.

Key Announcements at the Launch

Addressing a public gathering in Saharanpur, CM Yogi said the state has recorded a dramatic fall in school dropout rates. 'The drop-out rate, which stood at 19-20 per cent in previous regimes, has now been reduced to 3-4 per cent because of improved amenities and services,' he stated. He attributed this turnaround to the government's policy clarity and its sustained focus on educational infrastructure.

The Chief Minister also announced that approximately 23,000 differently-abled girls have been provided scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year. Additionally, the honorarium for Shiksha Mitras (part-time teachers) has been raised from ₹10,000 to ₹18,000 per month, while instructors' honorarium has been increased from ₹9,000 to ₹17,000.

Insurance Cover for School Staff

CM Yogi further announced that part-time teachers, instructors, cooks, and others associated with the School Chalo programme will receive an insurance cover of ₹5 lakh. This move is intended to provide financial security to the large workforce supporting government primary education across the state.

Operation Kayakalp and Infrastructure Overhaul

Yogi highlighted that in 2017, only 36 per cent of schools under the Basic Education Council were equipped with basic amenities. To address this, the state government launched 'Operation Kayakalp', a comprehensive school transformation initiative carried out in partnership with public representatives, the administration, and civil society.

He noted that most government schools previously lacked toilets, clean drinking water, furniture, libraries, kitchens, and boundary walls. Under Operation Kayakalp, separate toilets for boys and girls, clean drinking water, furniture, libraries, and proper mid-day meal arrangements are now being developed across schools. 'Quality education not only instils good values and fosters self-reliance in children but also prepares them to play an effective role in the development of society and the country,' CM Yogi said.

Focus on Marginalised Communities

The Chief Minister emphasised the government's persistent efforts to widen enrolment, particularly among children from backward and marginalised communities. He stressed that a child deprived of education represents a loss not only to the family but to the entire society and nation, framing universal schooling as a collective responsibility. This is the second major phase of the campaign since its inception, and the government's stated goal is to ensure no child in Uttar Pradesh remains outside the schooling system.