Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has emerged as one of the most competent chief ministers after successfully completing the very first year in the office meeting the challenges in the key areas of development besides taking care of the interests of every section of society specially farmers, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, backward classes and women by reflecting the qualities of an able dynamic, simple and kind hearted person with his commitment to give the people an impartial, transparent, responsive, sensitive and clean administration. When he took over the reigns of the state exactly an year ago, he has come out as a crusader dispelling the doubts and apprehensions and scepticism which were prevalent that time in the minds of the people about his capabilities. Shri Chouhan has assured the people of the state a secured and prosperous future liberating them from the miseries and struggles of day-to-day life. His stature has assumed a new height as a chief minister, politician, benevolent and able administrator. All the people irrespective of their financial status, family background, community have taken a sigh of relief from the days of crisis whether it related to water, electricity or roads. The past one year has also witnessed many good omens such as reinstatement of the services of daily wagers, extension of several facilities to farmers and the progress registered in the areas of health, education and above all interests shown by the major industrial groups towards investments have ushered in an era of prosperity in the state. The citizens of Madhya Pradesh have also liked it very much like anything seeing Madhya Pradesh being rewarded by the President in Delhi for its noteworthy achievements as the most fast developing state. During this period, every citizen of the state has experienced a sense of great pride watching Madhya Pradesh occupying top place in many areas of development achieving success one after another.

Les us see where our Madhya Pradesh stands atop.

• Madhya Pradesh is awarded with the "most fast moving state" honour by the President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at India Today Conclave held at New Delhi on September 1, 2006.

• Madhya Pradesh tops in implementation of "Employment Guarantee Scheme. Over two crore needy persons get employment guarantee.

• Tops in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana by constructing 11 thousand 110 kilometre long roads and connecting 4134 villages. Under PMGSY, roads are being constructed at a pace of 8 km. per day.

• Madhya Pradesh becomes first state in the country by implementing Cyber Treasury System.

• Pioneer state in implementation of "Street Vendors Scheme".

• First state of the country which launched "Tele Payment Scheme".

• First state of the country to launch Mentally Challenged Persons' Welfare Cell.

• Tops in the country by providing free insurance cover to 64 thousand 290 fishermen under the Fishermen Cooperative Scheme during the year 2005-06.

• Achieved first rank in implementation of Fishermen Cooperative Schemes among inland states.

• Pioneer in utilisation of Video Conferencing System. Video conferencing system has been used for 909 hours in a couple of years.

• Pioneer state in mustard production.

• Dewas Industrial Water Supply Scheme becomes first B.O.T. based project of the country.

• Madhya Pradesh tops in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with implementation of 25 percent schemes of the country in state.

• Maximum number of electrified villages are located in Madhya Pradesh. Electricity generation has increased by 1898 megawatt in last three years. Out of 51,806 populated villages so far, 50,474 villages have been electrified. .

• Madhya Pradesh also stands first in carrying out quality assessment work in respect of maintaining drinking water quality.

• Kanha declared as the best Tiger Reserve in the country.

• Well ahead in leprosy eradication. Achieves target prior to seven years of prescribed date.

• First agriculture produce treatment plant based on electron beam technology is being installed in Indore.

• Tops in world in "Stand up Programme" of United Nations Organisation. Madhya Pradesh registers record partnership in UNO's programme launched to eradicate poverty.

• Madhya Pradesh tops in carrying out Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programme.

• Madhya Pradesh also ranks first in the country in the works carried out in the field of panchayat raj institutions.

• Madhya Pradesh becomes the pioneer state in providing information about vehicle through e-service.

• First National Sailing School begins in Bhopal.

• Madhya Pradesh tops in vasectomy in the country.

• Work launched on first River Linking Project (Ken-Betwa) of the country.

• Website of Directorate of Public Relations, Government of Madhya Pradesh becomes the first website in the country which delivers news in four languages - Hindi, English, Urdu and Sanskrit.

• Madhya Pradesh tops in implementation of recommendations of Vaidyanathan Committee.

• Madhya Pradesh bags "Oil and Gas Conservation Award" for checking adulteration and misuse of petroleum products.

• Madhya Pradesh emerges as a pioneer state in implementation of urban development programmes being carried out under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

• Madhya Pradesh gets first prize in South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange.

• Office of the Superintendent of Police, Dewas becomes first I.S.O. certified office of the country.

• Madhya Pradesh secures second rank in drinking water supply arrangements in the country.

• Madhya Pradesh tops in expenditure on national highway improvement but stands second in implementation, says the report of the Surface Transport.

• Maximum irrigation potential of ninth five year plan created during year 2005-06.

• Serve Shiksha Ahbiyan : Madhya Pradesh gets second position by spending Rs. 1040 crore under the S.S.A.

• Samadhan Online Scheme begins from Jabalpur to redress people's grievances same day.

• First Women Panchayat organised

•  Gender budget from year 2007-08.

•  50% reservation in local bodies

•  Rs. one lakh deposit under the Girl Child Security Scheme.

•  Women Desk in selected police stations.

•  Rs. 10 thousand prize on information of female foeticide.

•  Ten percent reservation in police service.

•  Mother and Child Security Card released.

• Madhya Pradesh has so far got capital investment proposals worth Rs. one lakh three thousand crore for the first time. Tops in the country with 72 percent implementation of industrial investment.

• e-governance : M.P. one of four states in country

• Bags second place in implementation of National Crèche Scheme.

• Mid Day Meal Scheme : Stands second in the country by providing mid day meal to 87 lakh children studying in 87 thousand 500 schools of the state.

• Nationwide impact of the Madhya Pradesh's unique "Jalabhishek Abhiyan", lauded by Union Minister. Over two lakh water structures formed.

• Kisan Ayog constituted in Madhya Pradesh, Khet-Talab Scheme, fixation of Patwari Halka Unit are lauded by the Rasthriya Kisan Ayog too.

• Madhya Pradesh gets "very good" in implementation of 20-Point Programme. M.P. exceeds 90 percent of the target.

• Madhya Pradesh becomes second state by signing economic package of Rs. 25 thousand crore in the field of cooperation.

• Madhya Pradesh achieves second place in pure drinking water arrangement.

• Sanjay Project of Sidhi district becomes sixth Tiger Project of the country.

• National Law Institute University, Bhopal placed third in country.

• Madhya Pradesh second in agriculture census.

• Overdraft for not a single day during last three years.

• No fiscal deficit in first six months of the current financial year.

• First time budget of profit presented this year.

• Madhya Pradesh gets incentive of Rs. 260 crore from the Union Government.

• The state has already recovered hundred percent of the taxes revenue in first six months of the current financial year.

• New Industrial Policy has been formed to attract investment in Madhya Pradesh.

• So far, 22 thousand kilometre roads have been constructed.

• Next couple of years would see another construction of 40 thousand kilometre long roads in Madhya Pradesh.

• New policy has come up for minor hydel power projects.

• Constitution of women battalion.

• Malnutrition substantially controlled under the "Sanjeevani Abhiyan:.

• Tejaswini Rural Women Empowerment Scheme launched in six districts of the state.

• Janani Suraksha, Vijaya Raje Janani Bima Kalyan Yojna, Janani Express Schemes launched to reduced mother and child mortality rate.

• Consequently institutional deliveries increased from 26 percent to 42 percent.

• Gaon Ki Beti Scheme launched to encourage meritorious girls in rural areas to get higher education.

• Bicycles being provided free of cost to girl students.

• Mukhya Mantri Kanya Anudan Yojna launched.

• Ten thousand new anganwadi kendras being open.

• Interest rates of cooperative loans decreased upto seven percent.

• Department of agriculture christened as Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Development Department.

• Electricity bills of farmers worth Rs. 2200 crore waived off.

• Subsidy provision made for farmers to buy bullock cart or bullock pair.

• Electronic weighing machines installed in "mandis".

• Decision has been taken to honour farmers with outstanding performance.

• Relief amount, being provided to natural calamity affected farmers, has been doubled.

• Additional irrigation potential has been created on three hectares of land.

• Destitutes of Harsud have been rehabilitated.

• Lavatories and drinking water facilities have been provided in every government school.

• Over one lakh tanks have been constructed under the Khet-Talab Scheme.

• New Forest Policy has been formulated.

• Ten percent increase in collection wages of forest dwellers.

• As many as 400 forest checkposts set up to curb forest crimes.

• Development of non-forest wasteland.

• New policy for expansion of Information Technology.

• e-tendering arrangement has been made for government tenders.

• Utthan Abhiyan launched for welfare of disabled persons.

• Mass marriage scheme launched under the Deendayal Antyodaya Mission for daughters of poor persons.

• Flying squads abolished to curb illegal recovery from vehicles.

• Principals of government colleges and higher secondary schools delegated powers to issue temporary licence.

"Journey of Development Still Continues"

Sunita Dube