VARANASI, July 9 -- In an apparent jibe at the opposition Samajwadi Party, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said those who described copying during board exams as a birthright had pushed the state's youth into an identity crisis. He made the remark after launching the Mukhyamantri Shikshak Cashless Chikitsa Suvidha Scheme (Chief Minister's Cashless Medical Facility Scheme) for teachers and other staff members, including shiksha mitras, instructors and cooks, of primary and secondary schools in the state at a ceremony held at the Trade Facilitation Centre auditorium in Varanasi. He noted that 12 lakh personnel would benefit from the cashless scheme. He also transferred funds via DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) for items such as shoes, socks, bags, and stationery for children. A total of Rs.1,320 crore was transferred to the accounts of parents of over 1.10 crore children (Rs 1,200 each) across the state. Without naming anyone, Adityanath said, "There was a leader in Uttar Pradesh who had said that copying is our birthright. If cheating itself is considered a birthright, what can one say?" Adityanath said the culture of organised cheating had created an identity crisis for the youth of Uttar Pradesh. "Today, an environment of malpractice-free (cheating-free) education has been established in the state. We will not allow anyone to jeopardise the future of our youth or compromise the country's future and integrity," he said. The chief minister said there was a time when educators from Uttar Pradesh were invited to teach in other states, but later, "people pursuing their selfish interests completely ruined" the state's education system. Invoking Acharya Chanakya, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan as role models, Adityanath said a nation guided by teachers like Chanakya could never become weak or vulnerable to external forces. He remarked that launching this scheme from the cultural capital of India-a land steeped in spiritual tradition-would propel the initiative to greater heights. During the event, the chief minister handed over cashless medical facility cards to 15 teachers. UP minister Anil Rajbhar stated that the event embodies the chief minister's resolve to move forward with the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' (Together with all, Development for all, Trust of all). In the chief minister's presence, additional chief secretary (basic and secondary education department) Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, and Deepesh Raj, chief general manager, State Bank of India (Lucknow Circle) exchanged an MoU under the social security initiative for teachers and other personnel working under the basic education department. Beneficiaries include teachers from the state's basic and secondary schools, Shiksha Mitras, special educators (for children with special needs), instructors, and staff at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (wardens, full-time/part-time teachers), as well as cooks under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana and their dependent family members. The estimated annual premium for the Chief Minister's Cashless Medical Scheme is Rs.3,000 per teacher. The premium will be paid by the state government. Approximately 12 lakh teachers and cooks, along with their families, from the basic and secondary education departments will benefit from this welfare scheme. The state government will bear an annual expenditure of approximately Rs.447 crore for the payment of premiums under this scheme. Funds totaling Rs.1,200 per student are being successfully transferred directly to the parents' seeded accounts via DBT. This amount comprises Rs.600 for two sets of uniforms, Rs.175 for a school bag, Rs.200 for a sweater, Rs.125 for shoes and socks, and Rs.100 for stationery. An MoU was executed between the basic education department and the State Bank of India to provide social security benefits to 10 lakh teachers and other personnel, including contractual staff, working under the department. Permanent teachers/personnel earning a monthly salary exceeding Rs.10,000 will be provided with Group Term Life Insurance cover of Rs.10 lakh, personal accident insurance cover of Rs.1 crore, permanent disability cover of Rs.1 crore, and air accident cover of Rs.1.6 crore. Contractual personnel earning a monthly salary exceeding Rs.10,000 will be provided with personal accident insurance cover of up to Rs.80 lakh, insurance cover of Rs.80 lakh/Rs.40 lakh in cases of permanent/partial disability, and air accident cover of up to Rs.80 lakh....