State passing through unique phase of development: CM

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that Madhya Pradesh is passing through a unique phase of development shrugging off curse of sick state by dint of citizens’ untiring efforts. He said that the state has set off towards new destinations of progress and prosperity now. Madhya Pradesh will be developed as best state in the world. Reading out his message to people of the state on the occasion of Independence Day at the state-level function here today, Shri Chouhan remembered freedom fighters and revolutionaries saying that if a country casts evil eyes on India, it will not be tolerated. He unfurled National Flag at a grand and attractive function and took salute of parade. Shri Chouhan distributed Police Medals also.

Making announcements in the interest of employees, the Chief Minister said that employees who secured benefit of 2 increments, 2 promotions or time-scale in service period will also be given third time-scale.
Shri Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh is a state with over Rs. one lakh crore annual budget. A decade ago, it was merely Rs. 21 thousand 647 crore. The growth rate has also reached 10.02 percent. Gross Domestic Production and per capita income have also increased three-fold.
The Chief Minister said that state’s agriculture growth rate has been best in the country for last two consecutive years. Crop loans are being provided to farmers through cooperative banks. Over 70 lakh farmers have Kisan Credit Cards. Core banking is being introduced in cooperative banks with the assistance of NABARD. Free land has been provided to 1300 primary cooperative societies for increasing storage capacity in the state. After giving Rs. 150 per quintal bonus on wheat, bonus will also be given on procurement of maize. State has set unprecedented record in procurement.
Milk production in the state was 5.38 million tonnes in 2004, which has increased to 8.83 million tonnes now. State Micro Irrigation Mission has been launched for tapping irrigation water effectively. A project has been started to link Narmada river with Kshipra river. State is passing through revolutionary phase in power sector. Through Atal Jyoti Abhiyan, people in urban and rural areas are being supplied power round-the-clock and farmers get minimum 10 hours for agriculture and irrigation. This will generate jobs in rural areas. It is the resolve of State Government to ensure employment through investment and development in the state.
Lakhs of marriages have been solemnised under Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana and Mukhyamantri Nikah Yojana. All sections of societies are getting connected with Beti Bachao Abhiyan. So far, 15 lakh girls have been benefited under Ladli Laxmi Yojana. Over 900 vehicles and 50 call centres are being operated for emergency transport of pregnant women and sick children. Maternal and infant mortality rate has been reduced to 277 from 379 per lakh birth.
Under Mukhyamantri Shehri Gharelu Kamkaji Mahilaon Ke Kalyan Ki Yojana, women are being trained through ITI, skill development centres and NGOs. For curbing crimes against women, accused were sentenced in 806 case in the year 2012 and 544 cases till date in current year 2013 in which 10 cases convicts were sentenced to death and 264 to life imprisonment.
Shri Chouhan urged youths to become employers and not job-seekers. Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarozgar Yojana and other schemes have been launched to ensure that state produces big industrialists and spirit of entrepreneurship is inculcated in youths.
Referring to improving academic opportunities for youths, Shri Chouhan said that 7 new universities and 82 new government colleges have been set up. Besides, skill development scheme has been introduced in 110 colleges. For increasing women’s participation in technical education, 50-seater women’s hostels have been constructed in state’s 38 polytechnic colleges and 21 new polytechnics have been opened. Medical university has been started at Jabalpur and medical college at Sagar. It has been decided to open medical colleges at Ratlam, Shahdol and Vidisha.
Regarding education in primary and middle schools, Shri Chouhan said that enrollment rate there has reached 99 percent. Now, there are Adhyapaks and not Shikshakarmis in the state. It has been decided to give them uniform pay scale. Budget of Sports and Youth Welfare Department has been increased from Rs. 6 crore 24 lakh to Rs. 112 crore 90 lakh. State has won more than1600 medals in national games.
Referring to welfare of SC, ST, backward classes, minorities, poor and destitute persons, the Chief Minister said that Madhya Pradesh is pioneer in the country by providing land right documents to 1 lakh 82 thousand people. Of these, over one lakh patta holders have been issued credit cards and they have got loan facility. Patta of government land will be given to homeless people residing there. For the first time, entire dividend from bamboo royalty has been given to bamboo workers. Madhya Pradesh is the first state to declare support price on forest produce. Development agencies have been set up for primitive tribes Baiga, Sahariya, Bhariya and Kol.
In scheduled castes’ welfare sector, education budget has been increased 4 and a half-fold during last 9 years, hostel seats have been doubled, training expenses have been increased 25-fold, number of self-employment trainees is increased 100 percent and hostel construction expenditure has been increased four-fold. State Government pay fee of SC, ST students when they take admission in private engineering colleges. New schemes have been started for welfare of backward classes. Worthwhile increase has been made in the budgets of Urdu Akademi, Wakf Board, Haj Committee and Masajid Committee.
The Chief Minister said that over 85 lakh beneficiaries have been benefited at 435 district-level fairs for extending benefits to maximum number of poor beneficiaries. Now, wheat and salt at Re. 1 per kg and rice at Rs. 2 per kg is being provided to the poor under Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojna on which State Government is giving over Rs. 1000 crore subsidy. Antyodaya Anna Yojana has been launched for destitute persons.
Referring to financial assistance to handcart and cycle rickshaw pullers under Mukhyamantri Cycle Rickshaw Evam Haath-Thela Chalak Kalyan Yojana, Shri Chouhan said that photo ID cards have been given to domestic women workers. Under Mukhyamantri Khetihar Mazdoor Samajik Suraksha Yojana, facilities like maternity assistance, student scholarships, accident insurance claim amounts, marriage assistance and assistance for last rites is being given. Over 100 night shelters are being operated to facilitate poor labourers coming to cities in search of jobs. Under Sparsh Abhiyan, necessary equipments, treatment and financial assistance have been provided to 8 lakh disabled persons.
Referring to infrastructure development, the Chief Minister said that 95 thousand kilometer long roads have been constructed in the state since 2003. State has been adjudged first in construction of roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Besides, 10 thousand 249 kilometer long state highways have also been constructed. Mukhyamantri Grameen Sadak Yojana has been launched for construction of roads in villages not covered under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. About 16 thousand kilometer long roads are being constructed under Mukhyamantri Grameen Sadak Yojana. So far, Rs. 2 thousand 800 crore has been sanctioned to Gram Panchayats under Panch Parmeshwar Yojana for construction of internal roads and drains in villages. One lakh rural people are constructing their own houses under Mukhyamantri Aawas Mission.
So far, 2 thousand 839 schemes have been completed under Mukhyamantri Shehri Pey-Jal Yojana. Under the scheme, works costing Rs. 500 crore have been undertaken in 37 urban bodies. Job opportunities are increasing with rise in industrial investment and state’s revenue has increased. State is emerging as hub of textiles, automobiles, power and IT. Four new industrial corridors – Bhopal-Indore, Bhopal-Bina-Sagar, Jabalpur-Satna-Singrauli and Morena-Gwalior-Guna are being developed.
Referring to basic facility for medical treatment, Shri Chouhan said that generic medicines are being provided free in all government hospitals under Sardar Vallabh Bhai Free Medicine Distribution Scheme. Over 60 lakh women have been benefited by free transport facilities provided to promote institutional delivery. Infant mortality rate was 86 per thousand in the year 2004, which has been brought down to 59 per thousand now. Institutional delivery rate was 24 percent, which has risen to 84 percent. Number of beds available in government hospitals have increased from 9 thousand 800 to 13 thousand 400. Neo-born intensive care units have been set up. Atal Child Health & Nutrition Mission is being implemented to eradicate malnutrition.
So far, about 1.50 lakh senior citizens have visited various pilgrimages in the country under Mukhyamantri Tirth-Darshan Yojana. Sitaji temple is being constructed in Sri Lanka, Buddhist University at Sanchi and Haj House at Bhopal. Industry status has been accorded to tourism. State Government has increased posts of police personnel by 30 thousand 151 during last 10 years. Police training is also being improved and modernised.
Referring to innovations in public administration, Shri Chouhan said that over 1 crore cases have been disposed of within time-limit under Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act. Country’s 14 states have replicated this innovation. For transparent administration, e-Tender, e-Procurement, Samadhan Online and Jan-Sunwai Yojna have been launched. On the occasion Shri Chouhan urged people of the state to contribute their best for development of country and state.