In protest, health minister’s effigy to go up in flames this Dussehra

LUCKNOW: With dengue claiming about 100 lives in the state capital, this Dussehra, a Ramlila Samiti has decided to burn the effigy of UP health minister alongside that of Ravan. Through this move, the 19-yearold Aadarsh Ramlila Samiti of Triveni Nagar wants to draw the attention of the authorities towards the “inadequate arrangements” for dengue patients at government hospitals.

At present, the health portfolio is held by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav himself.

Shiv Shankar Awasthi, general secretary of Aadarsh Ramlila Samiti said, “What is the point of organising Ramlila when the daughter of one of our members died because of dengue? There are several others too who are in the grip of dengue fever. As Ramlila is to begin from October 12, we thought of taking a different route to draw the authorities’ attention towards this problem. We hope that other Ramlila societies will also take inspiration from us and build up pressure on the administration (to provide adequate help and facilities to dengue patients).”

Awasthi added that the decision to burn the health minister’s effigy was taken at a meeting on Friday.

“The situation is getting scarier with every passing day. So many people have died already. Yet, the authorities are not undertaking proper fogging and cleansing in localities like Faizullaganj and Triveni Nagar,” he said.

Other samiti members also expressed unhappiness with the dirt and filth in Triveni Nagar and Faizullaganj areas.

“At least 10 people living in these localities have died because of dengue. The area badly needs cleanliness and fogging,” said a member.

As Dussehra symbolises the victory of good over evil, Ramlila samitis often take up different themes to support the causes that they care about.

Last year, the Aishbagh Ramlila organising committee, one of the biggest and oldest in the state capital, had linked Ravan to cow slaughter. The burning of Ravan’s effigy, therefore, symbolised bringing an end to the practice of cow slaughter.

Similarly, the Ramlila samiti of Pant Nagar here took up the theme of women empowerment. Women played all the lead roles, including those of Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Bharat.