CM Shri Chouhan’s innovative schemes enhanced state’s prestige

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh has risen to eminence due to innovative mindset of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, people-oriented administration and development schemes based on Antyodaya philosophy. A number of schemes and programmes were chalked out on the basis of community participation and direct dialogue with people, which brought laurels to Madhya Pradesh from country and abroad. State has witnessed parallel social and economic development. Madhya Pradesh got a number of achievements for the first time in 5-6 decades.

Innovative social sector schemes paved way for prestige of Madhya Pradesh. Lakhs of senior citizens of various religions took advantage of Mukhyamantri Tirth-Darshan Yojana and visited pilgrimages of their choice free. Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana associated with social concern proved a boon to poor families and brought about social equality. Ladli Laxmi Yojna aiming at protecting girls’ future and freeing parents from burden of their education has earned encomiums not only in the country but abroad also. So far, over 15 lakh girls have become Ladli Laxmis and the process is still going on.

Shri Chouhan chalked out schemes for development of every section of society so that every family gets benefit of one or another scheme. Unprecedented increase in growth rate in Madhya Pradesh is the most important achievement under the leadership of Shri Chouhan. The growth rate was minus a decade ago. It increased historically to 10.02 percent and then further increased to 11.81 percent, which was maximum in the country.

Similarly, agriculture which was lagging behind due to shortage of irrigation and power, registered growth rate of 18.91 percent due to Shri Chouhan’s efforts. Procurement of wheat was only 16 lakh MT a decade ago. It reached 85 lakh MT and production increased to over 127 MT. E-procurement turned out to be a novel scheme in the country. While hailing maximum agricultural production in Madhya Pradesh in the country, the Union Government bestowed Krishi Karman Puraskar on the state. Area under irrigation increased from 7.50 lakh hectare to 25 lakh hectare. Madhya Pradesh became the first state to provide loans at zero percent interest rate to farmers.

It was due to entrepreneurship of Shri Chouhan that Madhya Pradesh’s villages witnessed the era of round-the-clock power supply under Atal Jyoti Abhiyan. Power infrastructure undermined during last 6 decades has been strengthened. Both agriculture and industry sectors received adequate power. Policy of industrial development gave a new direction to state’s development. Investment worth about Rs. 85 thousand crore was made in the state due to political stability and investment-friendly policy. New industrial corridors came into existence and initiative was taken to set up 77 new industrial development centres to form land bank for industries.

It was also due to Chief Minister’s initiative that Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act was enacted to make administration responsive to common people and 14 states emulated it. The United Nations considered it as a novel initiative and bestowed its prestigious UN Public Service Award on Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh is being counted among pioneer states in the country in culture sector. Madhya Pradesh’s initiatives were described as those preserving cultural traditions. Be it subsidy for pilgrimages, establishment of cow sanctuary, Narmada purification project, International Buddhist and Indic Studies University, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University or Culture University, Madhya Pradesh became talk of town throughout the world. Other initiatives taken to preserve and promote culture included construction of Sita Mata Mandir in Sri Lanka, Ram Van Gaman Path and Narmada Parikrama Path.

Initiating tradition of community dialogue, the Chief Minister adopted new system of good governance. Panchayats of various communities and beneficiary groups were held. Direct dialogue was held between people and administration at these mega events. Revolutionary decisions were taken. Antyodaya Melas boosted people’s trust in administration. Similarly, the Chief Minister took initiative to strengthen and enrich tradition of respect to all religions is also novel in the country. Tradition of holding programmes of various religions at Chief Minister’s residence was set, which was hailed by representatives of all religions.

Chief Minister’s sport loving policies promoting sports and sportspersons and setting up of academies became a precedent in the country. The Chief Minister not only promoted sports talents but also revived prestigious tournaments like Obaidullah Khan Gold Cup Hockey. He also constituted Youth Commission, launched Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarozgar Yojana and Mukhyamantri Yuva Contractor Yojana to promote youths.

Madhya Pradesh did remarkable work in fiscal management. Loan burden on state has decreased. Tax revenue has increased 4-fold. Budget has increased 5-fold. The budget used to be about Rs. 21 thousand crore a decade ago but now its is Rs. one lakh crore. Per capita income has increased 3-fold.

Important schemes like Narmada-Kshipra Link Project have been chalked out. Chief Minister’s schemes in social sector have given a new enthusiasm for life to the have-nots and deprived sections. Mukhyamantri Antyodaya Anna Yojana and other welfare schemes have also been chalked out for every section of society including rickshaw pullers, auto rickshaw drivers, domestic women workers, landless labourers and vegetable sellers. Be it Sparsh Abhiyan or Rein Basera, Antyodaya philosophy is visible everywhere. New employment schemes were chalked out for minorities and campaigns were conducted to safeguard rights of girls and protect them.

Development was accelerated with construction of 90 thousand km long roads in the state. Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojana became pioneer in the country in construction of roads. Madhya Pradesh became the first state in the country to complete enquiry into earning wealth unauthorisedly and punish the erring officials. Maximum number of actions have been taken in Madhya Pradesh.