Bhadohi (UP), Oct 4: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday announced that Bhadohi district has been renamed Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi, restoring the name associated with the revered saint Sant Ravidas.
Making the announcement during a programme in the district, Adityanath said the change reflected the government’s decision to honour Sant Ravidas and his message of social harmony and equality.
During his visit, the chief minister inaugurated development projects and laid foundation stones for 112 initiatives with a combined value of more than Rs 1,340 crore.
Adityanath recalled that the government had announced on Guru Purnima that the carpet-producing district would once again be identified with Sant Ravidas. He said the saint’s teachings promoted unity and envisioned a society where nobody remained deprived of basic necessities.
Referring to the Centre’s welfare programmes, the chief minister said more than 80 crore people across the country are receiving free foodgrains under government schemes. He said giving the district the name Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi was appropriate in view of the saint’s vision of an inclusive society.
The district has a history of administrative name changes. It was carved out of Varanasi district and became Uttar Pradesh’s 65th district on June 30, 1994. It was known as Sant Ravidas Nagar-Bhadohi for a period before the previous Samajwadi Party government restored the name Bhadohi on December 6, 2014.
Adityanath had announced on July 29 that the district would again be renamed Sant Ravidas Nagar. The announcement came as the BJP began a Dalit outreach campaign from Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
At Sunday’s event, Adityanath also criticised the Samajwadi Party while highlighting his government’s development and law-and-order record. He alleged that before 2017, government resources were diverted towards construction activities linked to graveyards, whereas the present administration was using funds for pilgrimage centres, heritage conservation and public infrastructure.
The chief minister claimed that Uttar Pradesh had undergone a major transformation under the BJP-led “double-engine” government. He said the state was no longer described as a “bimaru” or riot-prone region and asserted that improvements in law and order had strengthened the confidence of residents, including young people, women, traders and farmers.
Adityanath said his government had expanded employment opportunities for young people and announced that another one lakh government jobs would be provided within the next six months. He also warned that individuals who obstruct employment opportunities for the youth would face strict action, including imprisonment and property confiscation.
Highlighting the district’s location between Varanasi and Prayagraj, the chief minister said Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi had significant potential for economic growth, tourism and infrastructure development.
He said he had personally pushed for the district to be linked with the expanding expressway network after the government decided to extend the Ganga Expressway through the Vindhya Expressway.
The chief minister also highlighted the religious and cultural significance of the area. He said the Sant Ravidas Kutiya in Aurai tehsil continues to attract devotees, while efforts are underway to bring the Sita Samahit Sthal at Sitamarhi into the Ramayana Circuit.
Adityanath said the government was investing in pilgrimage destinations, protecting historical heritage and improving facilities at sites associated with the region’s religious and cultural traditions.