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Fifty-days
is too small
a time frame
to assess
the
performance
of any
government,
however, it
is a long
time if one
has to make
a comment on
the
direction
that the
government
has taken,
which has
been
reflected in
its
decisions,
modifications
in policies
and new
beginnings.
Already the
government
led by
Sushri Uma
Bharti has
made one
strong
statement
and that too
with a
difference.
Governance
with a human
face has
become the
corner stone
of the
decisions
and
programmes
of the new
government.
The new
vision for
development
heralded by
the state
government
stands out
as the
light-house
for
unleashing
locked up
development
potential
over the
next five
years. This
vision
envisages a
sustainable
development,
which is in
consonance
with the
needs and
resources of
the state
and is at
the cutting
edge of
solving
problems of
the people.
The
government
that has
been voted
to power on
the plank of
development
is not
trying to
create vote
banks by
appearing to
pamper
different
sections of
society
while
distributing
benefits.
The
development
vision of
the
government
is aimed at
integrated
and balanced
development
and is
oriented to
enhance
cohesiveness
of the
society.
It
goes without
saying that
in our
country's
constitutional
set up, the
Central
Government
plays an
important
and decisive
role in the
development
of states.
The Uma
Bharti
Government
in a short
span of one
and a half
month has
already
added a new
dimension to
the
development
of the state
with the
support and
assistance
of the
Central
Government.
Rs 300
crores All
India
Institute of
Medical
Sciences at
Bhopal,
agreement on
establishing
1000 MW
thermal
power plant
by Neyveli
Lignite,
four laning
of selected
National
Highways of
Madhya
Pradesh
under Prime
Minister
Bharat Jodo
Pariyojana,
additional
funds for
completing
ongoing
irrigation
projects are
some of the
major
development
initiatives
that have
become
possible due
to better
coordination
with the
Central
Government.
A
blueprint
for
infrastructure
development
of Madhya
Pradesh is
being drawn
up; setting
time bound
targets for
execution of
power,
highway and
irrigation
projects.
Funds for
these major
infrastructure
projects
would be
mobilised
from the
Asian
Development
Bank, the
World Bank
and the
Central
Bank. Annual
allocation
for
connecting
villages
with
metalled
roads under
Pradhan
Mantri Sadak
Yojana is
being
enhanced
substantially
from Rs 400
crores to Rs
1000 crores.
Additional
funds from
the state
budget would
be earmarked
for
infrastructure
projects.
Investments
pouring into
these mega
projects and
execution
gaining
momentum
would create
several job
opportunities
at the local
level. With
the
improvement
in the roads
and power
situation,
economic
activities
will be
expanded
naturally,
thereby
creating
more job
opportunities.
Expansion of
irrigation
would lead
to higher
income to
farmers,
which in
turn would
further
boost
economy of
the state.
Sparse
economic
activities
in the
tribal areas
is one of
the major
reasons for
endemic
poverty
among the
tribal
people, who
constitute
one fifth of
state's
population.
In view of
the urgency
of the task,
the state
government
has decided
to launch an
Employment
Guarantee
Scheme in
all 89
tribal
blocks,
specifically
targeting
poor tribal
people.
Under the
scheme,
every tribal
family would
get
employment
of 180 days
every year.
The scheme
would
involve
annual
expenditure
of over Rs.
250 crore.
Headway has
been made in
converting
forest
villages
into revenue
villages and
soon as many
as 310
forest
villages
would become
revenue
villages.
The
initiative
for granting
pattas to
farmers who
had
encroached
upon forest
lands before
1980 has
also made
progress. It
may be
recalled
that the
previous
government
could hardly
show any
progress
over a
period of 10
years in
regularising
encroachments
on forest
lands and
conversion
of forest
villages
into revenue
villages.
Collection
of tendu
leaves is an
important
activity in
the tribal
areas of the
state, as it
provides
source of
livelihood
to lakhs of
people. The
new
government
has decided
to modify
the policy
on tendu
leaves so as
to ensure
higher wages
to tendu
leaf
pluckers,
who are
principally
tribal
people. A
new system
of advance
agreement
with the
buyers is
being made
so that
tendu leaves
do not
remain
dumped in
godowns.
Under
Mid-day Meal
Scheme, the
children in
schools will
now get meal
and not
dalia. From
the next
year about
75 lakh
children
would get
dal-roti or
vegetable-roti,
as meal. The
scheme would
lead to
better
attendance
of children
in the
schools on
the one
hand, while
it would
lessen
malnutrition
among poor
children on
the other.
The decision
to
completely
ban
slaughter of
cows is not
only a right
step for the
agrarian
economy of
the state;
it is also
reflective
of the
compassion
of the Chief
Minister,
Sushri Uma
Bharti
towards mute
cattle and
sensitivity
to
sentiments
of people.
The persons
who are
earning
their
livelihood
from it will
be given
alternative
avenues for
employment.
An action
plan is
being
prepared for
expanding
and
popularising
bio-farming
along with
protection
of bovine
family.
Making
administration
sensitive
and
responsive
as well as
accountable
to the
people they
serve is
essential
for
effective
implementation
of policies
and
programmes.
A
streamlined
monitoring
system is
being
created at
various
levels. The
Chief
Minister
herself is
taking stock
of the
problems of
the people
and response
of the
administration
to deal with
these
problems by
making
unannounced
and surprise
spot-checks
in the
villages.
Another
track of
monitoring
consists in
the feedback
that the
Chief
Minister
gets during
her Jan
Darshan
programme,
where she
meets people
to listen to
their
grievances.
The targets
for various
programmes
are being
set
realistically
and specific
responsibilities
are being
fixed for
attaining
these
targets.
From
this new
vision for
development
contours of
the picture
of Madhya
Pradesh that
would emerge
five years
from now can
be observed
vividly. The
state would
boast of
quality
highways,
uninterrupted
power supply
and adequate
water.
Madhya
Pradesh then
would be
known for
the
capabilities
of its
people, its
natural
resources
and new
opportunities
for
development.
This would
happen
because
people of
Madhya
Pradesh have
chosen
wisely for
development.
Just as a
journey of
thousand
miles begins
with a
single step
so has
Madhya
Pradesh
taken the
first step
in the last
one and a
half month
on a great
development
journey.
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