Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh:
A young girl’s dream of becoming an IAS officer has sparked a political debate in Uttar Pradesh, after her heartfelt plea for a school fee waiver was initially met with assurance by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath — but later dismissed by her school.
Pankhuri Tripathi, a student of Class 7 at Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Gorakhpur, appealed for help when her family faced a financial crisis. Her father, Rajiv Kumar Tripathi, was forced to quit his job after suffering a serious leg injury, leaving the family unable to pay her school fees of ₹1,650 per month, totaling about ₹18,000 in dues.
She approached CM Yogi Adityanath during his Janata Durbar on July 1, where he reportedly assured her that her education would continue without interruption. However, the school administration, run by Vidya Bharati (RSS education wing), refused the waiver, stating, “there is no such provision,” and warned that accommodating such requests could shut the school down.
“They misbehaved with us at the school. My father broke down. But I still trust Maharaj ji,” said an emotional Pankhuri.
The issue quickly gained political traction, with Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav criticizing the BJP and promising full support for Pankhuri’s education. “This exposes the reality of BJP’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ slogan,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite Mr. Yadav’s offer, the Tripathi family has chosen to place their faith in CM Yogi, due to their long-standing association with the Gorakhnath Math, where Yogi Adityanath is the head priest.
Meanwhile, state education officials say a letter has been sent to the school, and they are hopeful for a positive resolution soon.
