Bhopal, August 16 (Pervez Bari): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that Madhya Pradesh has well established its identity as a fast growing state in the country. The economic growth rate this year would be nine percent following the good performance in all sectors.
Addressing the people at Independence Day celebration function here at Motilal Nehru Stadium on Monday, Mr. Chouhan extended greetings to people on the Independence Day. He called upon people to participate in the process of transforming Madhya Pradesh into a prosperous state and reaching out to the most deprived sections ensuring them the benefits of development realizing the concept of Mahatma Gandhi’s Gram Swaraj and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay’s Antyodaya.
The Chief Minister said that the state is marching on and on realizing the vision of freedom fighters. In order to perpetuate the memory of supreme sacrifice of tribal freedom fighters, the state government is taking concrete steps. Tantya Bhil Smarak is being built at Badoda Ahir village in Khandwa, Bheema Nayak Centre is being set up at Dhababavadi village in Badwani and Chandra Shekhar Azad memorial temple is under construction at Bhabra in Aalirajpur district.
Mr. Chouhan said that terrorism in any form would not be allowed to raise its head in the state. He said that the over 100 terrorists have been arrested in different operations by the Anti-Terrorist Squad, (ATS).
Madhya Pradesh, he said has become the first state in the country to have constituted Agriculture Cabinet for designing the policies friendly to the farmers. Last year the agriculture growth rate remained 7.5 percent, which could be attributed to a series of efforts for making agriculture a profitable proposition.
Mr. Chouhan said that this year farmers would be given short term loans worth about Rs. 6500 crore. Amount of Rs. 500 crore as bonus in addition to minimum support price has been deposited direct into the accounts of farmers. This year a record 49 lakh metric tons of wheat have been procured. Madhya Pradesh has been appreciated at national level for making procurement arrangements.
Referring to farm sector initiatives, Mr. Chouhan said that frost affected farmers have been provided over Rs. 1400 crore as relief to them. Efforts have been intensified to increase the acreage under horticulture crops up to five lakh hectare in coming three years. The farmers growing horticulture crops have been given an option of selling their produce direct in the open market apart from Krishi Mandis (agriculture produce trading yards). Fish farmers would be given loan at one percent interest rate in order to promote fisheries. Milk routes are being established across the state.
Underlining the importance of irrigation, Mr. Chouhan said that this year additional two lakh hectare would be brought under irrigation. Last year additional 1.15 lakh hectare was irrigated for Rabi season. As many as 415 minor irrigation schemes have been completed. Listing the power sector initiatives, he said that 5000 MW power would be available in coming three years. Feeder separation is underway. So far, 241 feeders have benefited over 1900 villages.
Expressing commitment to conservation of forest wealth and its re-generation, the Chief Minister said that seven crore saplings are being planted under Hariyali Mahotsava. As many as 20 lakh Mahua saplings have been planted. Madhya Pradesh has become the first in the country to have announced minimum support price for Achar kernel and lac. Soon minimum support prices will be announced for Harra, Mahua flower, Mahua seed, Karanj seed and Nimboli.
The Chief Minister said that one thousand drinking water scheme have been prepared under the Chief Minister’s Drinking Water Scheme for rural areas. About 19,000 settlements have been covered. He informed that over 42,000 villages have master plans. Mobile banks for prompt disbursement of payment under the MNREGA will be operative across the state.
The Chief Minister informed that Asian Development Bank has recognized Madhya Pradesh as role model in the sphere of road construction. About 2500 roads are under construction under Mukhya Mantry Gram Sadak Yojana. Roads measuring about 47 thousand km have been constructed under Pradhan Mantry Gram Sadak Yojana. Out of 10,000 km state highways, about 7000 have high quality construction, remaining are under construction. The Centre has been requested to denotify national highways passing through Madhya Pradesh so that the state government can construct and maintain them speedily.
About urban administration and development, Mr. Chouhan said that development plans of 110 cities including five holy cities have been readied. Preliminary survey for metro train in Indore and Bhopal has been completed. For city planning and management, Mukhya Mantry Drinking Water Scheme, Mukhya Mantry Sanitation Mission, Mukhya Mantry Housing Scheme for Urban Poor have been launched.
Mr. Chouhan said that gas-affected widows are getting monthly pension of Rs. 1000 for five years. About 2000 housing units worth Rs. 40 crore would be constructed for the gas-affected families. In order to enable youths gram employment opportunities, seven new polytechnics are being opened this year. From Vishwakarma Jayanti, Skill Development Centres would become operational in 113 blocks. He said that weaker sections have been given social security cover. Antyodaya Melas would now be organized at block level also.
Referring to Sparsh campaign for rehabilitation of disabled persons, he said that district level fairs would be organized for them from September. Regarding educational upliftment of tribal communities, he said that English medium pre-matric hostels would be opened. All hostels will have at least 50 seats. He said that country’s first community radio in Bhili dialect has been started at Bhabra in Aalirajpur. None more would soon be opened. Over 1.50 lakh forest land title holders could now participate in Mandi election. For the other backward classes, this year 11 post matric hostels with 100 seats capacity would be constructed. About 5000 youths are getting job-oriented trainings. It has been decided to implement Mukhya Mantry Scheme for Self-employment of Minority Youths.
Listing the efforts for promotion of industries, Mr. Chouhan said that 24,000 hectare government land has been identified for land bank across the state. As many as 30 industrial units have started commercial production in country’s first Special Economic Zone at Indore and 51 units that signed MoU at Khajuraho Global Investors’ Summit have started production.
Mr. Chouhan said that the state is witnessing increasing use of Information Technology due to which there is greater transparency in governance. Public Service Day would be observed on September 25. More services would be brought under Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act, for which Lok Seva Kendra – Public Service Centres would be set up, he added.
The Chief Minister said that efforts in health sector have earned appreciation at national level. Institutional delivery has increased from 26 percent to 81 percent. In last ten years, the remarkable achievement in family planning was scored last year with 6.50 lakh families adopting family planning methods. Mukhya Mantry Scheme for Treatment of Heart Ailments of Children has been launched for free treatment of children suffering from serious heart diseases. The 108-ambulance facility would now be available in all districts. In order to end mal-nourishment among children, Atal Child Health and Nutrition Mission has been launched, he added.
Mr. Chouhan said that women empowerment initiatives are showing results. About 8 lakh girls have got coverage under Ladli Laxmi Yojana, while about 1.5 lakh daughters of poor families have got married off under the Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojana. He said that World Bank has appreciated the efforts for socio-economic empowerment of women. In the series of efforts, Save Girl Child Campaign would be launched from October 5, 2011. He urged the people to participate in the campaign.
The Chief Minister said that educational facilities have been maximized. From this year, boys are being given two sets of uniforms and cycles free of cost. As many as 8 new universities in private sector and 68 colleges have started. He said that public distribution system is being streamlined. The beneficiaries under Antyodaya Anna Yojana, have been given option to lift foodgrain for six months.
In sports sector, eight new sports academies for cycling, weightlifting, archery, Mallakhamb, Gymnastic, Athletics, Swimming and Table Tennis would be opened. Besides, Madhya Pradesh has become country’s first state to open Natya Vidyalaya. With a view to promoting tourism, air service from Bhopal to Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior is commencing soon.
(pervezbari@eth.net)