Two years ago the present government came to power on the plank of development. The government inherited empty coffers; and an inertia prevailed in almost every sector of development. The government had its tasks cut out for it- giving Madhya Pradesh the development path, it was craving desperately, while putting the state’s economy back on the tracks. The state has an irony since its very inception. The irony is that it has been endowed with rich natural wealth yet it miserably failed to leverage upon this wealth due, mainly, to lack of requisite infrastructure. 

True to its promise with the people the present government made successful efforts to set things right in priority sectors including road, irrigation, education, health etc while at the same time improving the fiscal health of the state. A special feature of this endeavour has been that in last two years development did not suffer slackness at any point of time; and there has been a continuity in development process.

Roads

In view of the inconvenience to people due to bad condition of roads the present state government gave top priority to construction and upgradation of roads.It is brought out by the fact that the state government almost doubled the budget provision for this sector in comparison to last year. At the same time fruitful efforts were made to mobilize funds from the centre for this purpose. The last two years have seen construction of close to 12 thousand km long roads and work of another three thousand km is in progress. This year one thousand villages would be linked with roads. In the year 2005-06 the state has received Rs. 137 crore for National Highways, Rs. 93 crore from Central Road Fund and Rs. 25 crore as special central assistance. Country’s largest road construction project under BoT is being implemented in Madhya Pradesh. A total of 1670 km long 11 roads are being constructed under BoT mode of which work of 1133 km has been constructed in last two years.

Similarly, construction of 1602 km roads has been taken up with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank. A Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation has been set up for construction and upgradation of roads. The state government has notified it as State Highway Authority. All the state roads have been transferred to it for development. The corporation is carrying out construction of 5332 km roads of which work of 1233 km has already been completed. In last two years 1116 km National Highway has been upgraded at a cost of Rs. 235 crore. Under Central Road Fund 349 km roads have been constructed and improved at a cost of Rs. 85 crore while under Fast Track scheme 3095 km roads have been upgraded at a cost of Rs. 168crore. Similarly, under NABARD a sum of Rs. 146 crore has been spent on construction and improvement of 1301 km roads. With the one time assistance of Rs. 102 crore from Asian Development Bank construction and improvement of 193 km roads has been carried out. From Kisan Road Fund a sum of Rs, 210 crore has been spent on construction of 1730 km roads. Besides, construction of 1730 km roads has been carried out from the head of budget works. In next three years, about 10 thousand km roads would be constructed and improved in the state.

The road construction works are going on apace in all parts of the state and the day is not far off when roads in the state would be a matter of pride and not a butt of jokes.

Once enviably placed in power sector having the distinction of a power surplus state Madhya Pradesh miserably lagged behind in this sector with the gap between demand and supply widening continuously over the years. The present government made concerted efforts towards resolving the unprecedented power crisis. In last two years 1371 MW power generation has been added, which is the highest increase in any couple of years. The current shortage of power is due to increased consumption in farm sector and reduction in allotment from the centre to the state. Anyway, efforts are afoot to tide over the crisis at the earliest possible.

The newly constructed Indira Sagar Project has started generating one thousand MW and work of a project for generation of 700 MW thermal power has been started. In order to ensure quality power supply the work of laying new transmission and distribution lines and improving the existing ones is in progress on a large scale. Till November 10 last power on three phase was supplied for 18 hours and at present three phase supply is 8-10 hours. The power allocation to the state from the eastern zone of the NTPC which was 350 MW in July 2002 has been reduced to 50 MW which is a major cause for preset shortage

Efforts are being made to meet maximum possible demand by purchasing additional power from different power trading companies. In last two years work has been intensified on construction of Amarkantak, Birsinghpur and Omkareshwar powerhouses.

This year the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board made a record supply of 5880 MW on Deepawali. Following the committed efforts being made by the state government Madhya Pradesh would be able to become not only self-reliant but also even surplus in power sector by year 2007.

Agriculture is the mainstay of state’s economy. The state government has, therefore, given high priority to augmenting irrigation potential. A target has been set to increase irrigation facility from 39 percent to 50 percent. A budget provision of Rs. 1735 crore has been made this year for this purpose, which is Rs. 207 crore more than the revised estimates of last year. Provision has also been made for survey of 198 new irrigation projects having a potential to create irrigation potential for 86 thousand hectare. The state government has also embarked upon a Rs. 1919 crore water sector re-structuring project to restore irrigation facility in about 4.5 lakh hectare in 30 districts of six basins. These districts are Indore, Neemuch, Mandsaur , Shajapur , Rajgarh ,Bhind , Morena , Sheopur , Gwalior , Datia , Shivpuri , Guna ,Vidisha , Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur , Rewa , Panna , Damoh , Ashoknagar , Bhopal ,Sehore , Sidhi , Satna , Katni , Raisen , Sagar , Dewas , Dhar , Ratlam and Ujjain.

With a view to bringing about prosperity through irrigation in water deficit and drought affected areas, a Ken-Betwa river-linking project has been implemented which is the first project of its kind in the country. Parvati-Kalisind-Chambal river linking project would also be implemented. These would cost about Rs. 9 thousand crore and about 7 lakh hectare would be irrigated in 12 districts. The Ken-Betwa river linking project would also generate 72 MW power.

Considering primary education as the foundation of a progressive society the present state government has paid special attention to improve school education. A revised mid-day meal scheme has been implemented to increase enrollment and retention in schools. This and other related efforts have led to five lakh fresh enrolments in schools and the dropout rate has also come down. Special care has been taken of improving quality of teaching. An Operation Quality has been launched to train about one lakh untrained teachers. As many as 5734 new school buildings have been constructed and work on another 5500 is in progress. Most of these schools are in rural areas. A School for Excellence has been set up this year in every development block .A Vivekanand Career Guidance scheme has been initiated for providing guidance to the students after clearing X class.

Paying special attention to girl’s education the state government has started attractive schemes. Last year free uniforms were distributed to over 45 lakh girl students. Over 35 thousand girl students getting admission in IX class were provided with a bi-cycle. In addition, to encourage and motivate meritorious rural girls a Gaon Ki Beti scheme has been launched for them. Under this, an assistance of Rs 500 per month is given to meritorious girls to pursue higher studies. Besides, the buildings and facilities of the hostels and ashram schools for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students are being improved. Due attention has been paid to technical and higher education as well.

Apart from ensuring effective implementation of the various health and family welfare programmes the state government has launched certain new schemes to provide better health care to the poor. A Deendayal Antyodaya Upchar Yojana has been implemented to provide free medical treatment to the BPL families of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Under this, a family can get treatment of upto Rs.20 thousand in a year. So far, 65 thousand 400 people have benefited from the scheme. Similarly, another scheme has been launched to provide free transportation facility to women of poor scheduled caste and scheduled tribe families for institutional delivery. As many as 51,609 women have already availed this facility so far. Madhya Pradesh is the first state to implement integrated district health projects in the country.

A Dhanvantari Development Block scheme has been initiated from August 15 this year. Under this, 50 blocks have been selected to be developed as model districts from health point of view.

More efficient and effective implementation of rural development schemes has been ensured in last two years. Selected villages in every Assembly constituency are being developed as Gokul Grams where all basic amenities are being provided. In the very first year 1150 villages were selected and concerted efforts made to provide better facilities and developing alternative sources of livelihood there. Activities of 19 important development departments are being carried out simultaneously in these villages. Gokul forests are being developed and an initiative has been taken to push up development through convergence of vital resources like water, land, livestock, forest and manpower. Works costing Rs. 117 crore have been completed so far in these villages. Population maps are being made in Gokul Grams and an initiative has been taken to provide title papers of immovable properties to the people there. A Godan Yojana has also been implemented there to provide cows of quality breed to the poor families.

Maintaining a balance between rural and urban development the state government has paid due attention to development of cities and towns. An A.D.B. funded Rs. 1366 crore scheme has been taken up for improvement in drinking water supply, environment and generating employment in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur cities. A novel scheme christened Ayodhya Basti Yojana has been implemented for improving basic amenities in urban slums. A total of 357 slums have been selected as Ayodhya Bastis and various development works are being carried out there. Encroachments are being removed in cities and towns and traffic rearmaments improved to the relief of the people there.

Seven cities of religious importance have been declared holy cities and schemes for their all round development have been notified. These cities are – Orchha , Chitrakoot, Maihar , Ujjain , Omkareshwar , Maheshwar and Amarkantak. Special efforts would be made for development of these cities and better facilites provided to the devotees and tourists there.

Proper care has been given to provide efficient administration to rural as well as urban areas in the state. Gram Sachivalayas have been set up for prompt redressal of public grievances in rural areas where on an average thirty lakh petitions are disposed of every month. A serious view has been taken of the tendency of absenteeism among government servants. Action has been taken against 513 doctors found absent from duty unauthorisedly. Over 52 thousand pending court cases of minor nature have been withdrawn and action is being taken to withdraw another 31 thousand ones. In order to strengthen national spirit the singing of national song Vandemataram has been started in Mantralaya and collector offices.

From day one the present state government paid special attention to accelerate the pace of industrialization. The new Industrial Promotion Policy-2004 has created a favourable atmosphere for investment in industries. Concrete proposals for investment of Rs 50 thousand crore have been received. Docks have been cleared for Rs. 9000 Bina refinery project in Bundelkhad region. A Rs. 1200 crore Auto Testing Track scheme has been sanctioned for Pithampur. Besides, a Rs.400 crore scheme for gas supply to household industries and vehicles in Malwa region has been sanctioned. A Rs. 70 crore auto cluster scheme has also been sanctioned for Pithampur. An All India Information Technology Institute – Design and Manufacturing has been set up at a cost of Rs. 200 crore at Jabalpur. Japan is also investing a capital of Rs. 400 in this institute. A Rs. 80 crore water supply scheme has been implemented in Dewas industrial area which is country’s first private sector water sector scheme. The Special Economic Zone near Indore is fast developing. Three units have already gone into production and lands have been allotted to 16 units. Preparations are being made for a Special Economic Zone at Gwalior. A Jewellery park and a garment complex are being set up at Indore. Information Technology Parks are being established at Bhopal, Jabalpur, Indore and Gwalior.

The present state government inherited a very poor financial condition. It took it as a challenge and succeeded in not only putting the state’s economy back on the track but also mobilized adequate funds for development schemes.

The credit rating of Madhya Pradesh in financial market has improved considerably which is reflected in over subscription of the development loans floated by the government. Previous years had seen a constant downfall in financial position of the state government. Due to constantly increasing revenue deficit borrowings were spent on current consumption expenditure for last several years. The state government’s liabilities constantly went up and the amount borrowed could not be spent on productive activities. Consequently, the required investment on infrastructure suffered. The uncontrolled increase in non-plan revenue expenditure raised the revenue deficit. the state government reversed the trend.

The Government of Inida and the Reserve Bank have recognized the performance of the state government in fiscal management. In recognition of this, the centre provided an incentive of Rs. 263 crore. The state government has been able to collect revenue of Rs. 4000 crore without imposing any new tax. Tax collection has been increased by about 18 percent. Budgetary provisions for energy, public works, water resources, backward classes welfare, education, health etc departments have been increased by 60 to 150 percent in comparison to previsions years. It is owing to the efficient financial management that the centre has sanctioned the largest ever annual plan of Rs 7471 crore to the state.

The state government has initiated various novel steps in various fields. Special attention has been paid to improvement of breed of cow family and a budgetary provision of Rs.24 crore has been made for this purpose. A Vivekanand Group Insurance Scheme has been initiated for people living below poverty line. A separate horticulture and processing department is being set up.

One would, thus, see that considerable improvement has been made in the infrastructure and development has received a fresh impetus in last two years in the state. Going by the speed of development works one can say that now Madhya Pradesh is fast becoming synonyms with development, shedding the stigma of being a backward state. As a result of the concrete efforts of the government Madhya Pradesh is also emerging as a state of immense possibilities in development.

D.K. Malviya