Antyodaya Mela is upliftment of deprived section of society: CM

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that extending benefits of schemes and welfare programmes to the last person in the last row is the State Government’s priority. Antyodaya stands for upliftment of the deprived section. The State Government is organising Antyodaya Melas with this in view. Shri Chouhan was addressing an Antyodaya Mela at Silwani in Raisen district today. Member of Parliament Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of State for Farmers Welfare Shri Brijendra Pratap Singh and Housing Board Chairman Shri Rampal Singh were also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister said that through Antyodaya Melas the government is going to the beneficiaries’ doorsteps to provide benefits of various schemes to them. He said that the state is taking rapid strides in development. State’s agriculture growth rate is the highest in the country. We are in the category of maximum food grains producing states in the country.
He said that it is the result of the policy for making agriculture a profitable occupation that Madhya Pradesh has been conferred Krishi Karman Award by the Union Government. He said that irrigation facility is being constantly expanded in Madhya Pradesh. Feeder separation work is progressing fast to ensure that farmers get adequate power. The government will supply power round-the-clock in rural areas soon. Farmers will not have to pay electricity bills every month now. They can pay the electricity bills twice a year. He said that from this year, the State Government will procure wheat from farmers at the rate of Rs. 1500 per quintal.
Shri Chouhan said that loan guarantee scheme has been launched to ensure that children of every section of society can pursue higher education. Decision about providing loan upto Rs. 25 lakh each to youths to start self-employment has been taken recently at Yuva Panchayat. Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to provide loans to farmers at zero percent interest rate.
The Chief Minister informed that Saradar Vallabh Bhai Patel Free Medicine Distribution Scheme has been launched to ensure that health services are made available smoothly to all. Free Pathology Tests Scheme has also been launched recently. He informed that the State Government has decided to pay Rs. 100 per meeting to panchas of Gram Panchayats. The Chief Minister referred to a number of schemes pertaining to social concerns including Mukhyamantri Teerth-Darshan Yojna, maintenance of parents and inviting senior citizens above 65 years of age to mid-dal meals.
On the demand of people and public representatives, the Chief Minister announced to provide Rs. 2 crore for infrastructure works in Silwani, Rs. 45 lakh for construtin of stadium and opening of science and commerce faculties in the college from the next session.
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated construction works worth Rs. 3 crore 65 lakh. He inaguruated buildings of Bataira Gram Panchayat, Singpuri Ucherra Gram Panchayat, Dhangaon Gram Panchayats and Jaitpur Gram Panchayats. Besides, he also inaugurated Chheend to Baghwara Gravel Road T 01 to Kakraua Road, CC road in Silwani Nagar Panchayat and sub-health centre, Saikhera.
On he occasion. Smt. Sushma Swaraj said that benefits of welfare schemes are provided to the last person in the last row of society at Antyodaya Melas. She said that Madhya Pradesh is becoming the first choice of industrialists for investment. Employment opportunities have increased in the state as a result of fast-paced development. Shri Brijendra Pratap Singh said that side by side all-round development, the State Government is also implementing welfare schemes for all sections of society. Throwing light on development works, Shri Rampal Singh said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the state has made a number of achievements. Maximum number of welfare schemes for all sections of society are being implemented in Madhya Pradesh as compared to any other state in the country.
At the outset, Collector Shri Mohan Lal informed that benefit of government schemes is being provided to 40 thousand 976 beneficiaries at this Antyodaya Mela. Eight works worth Rs. 3 crore have been inaugurated.