The Golden Jubilee celebrations of Madhya Pradesh come to a close on November 6, 2006. The 50^th year of the existence of Madhya Pradesh as a State was justifiably very important and special in that it saw an unprecedented spur in development activities. The year also assumes added importance given the fact that the state was ranked a fast mover by a reputed survey of states of the country. Now one may say that Madhya Pradesh has come of age.

Fifty years ago when Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla showed the map of proposed Madhya Pradesh state to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the latter commented, albeit in a lighter vein, that it looked like a strange animal. Although Pandit Nehru was aware of the potential of this giant state to emerge as one of the most developed states of the country given the blessings bestowed upon it by the nature, its peace loving and industrious people and its geographically central location He, however, he accepted the proposal with a pinch of salt.

On November 1,1956 Madhya Pradesh, the country’s largest state, came into being. The successive chief ministers from the different parties had their own visions and contributed their mite to the development of this one of the most backward states. However, on the hindsight one finds that there has been a conspicuous lack of a grand vision, which led to an ad hoc and piecemeal approach to development. Madhya Pradesh is a landlocked land surrounded by various states. The different regions of the state have cultural traits of their respective adjoining states, so the state could never develop a common cultural bonding. It failed to be crucible of these different traits. It was also a cause of regional imbalance. At one point of time a particular region was paid over attention at the cost of remaining ones.

Certainly, Madhya Pradesh has moved a long from those times and has made rapid strides in almost all fields of development, but the fruits of the endeavours in this direction would have been many folds had a proper infrastructure been created to leverage upon the immense natural wealth of the state. It is not that efforts were not made for this, but it had never been a top priority at any point of time during over 47 years till the present government came to power in December 2003.

The most creditable achievement of the present government it bailed the State out of a state of stasis that it was at the time it took the reins, in a telescoped time of close the three years. One hardly needs to tax the mind to recall the backbreaking bumpy rides on what could best be called an apology of roads. Of the all-pervasive darkness with electricity playing truant forcing the people to live in the lantern-age. Of the countryside crying for most basic amenities. Of agriculture having been pushed to the backstage. Of the industrialists reluctant to locate units in the state; and, of course the system having gone haywire leading to loss of people’s faith in it. Besides, the state was financially a wreck. In sum, things were all odd against the nascent government voted to power on development plank. During about three years the government has proved beyond doubt its ability to turn lemons into lemonades by approaching development with a new vision changing the socio-economic contours of the state. It also succeeded in removing regional imbalance in development by laying special stress on progress of hitherto most backward regions like Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.

The present state government was never found wanting in walking the talk and true to its promise delivered the benefits of the various ongoing schemes and programmes besides initiating some fresh ones for all round development of the state and promoting welfare of the people, particularly the weaker sections. It successfully put state economy back of the tracks in such an efficient manner that its fiscal management is widely appreciated at the national level.

Over the last one year the Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken fruitful initiatives to actively involve the people in formulating and implementing the policies and programmes for their well-being. He launched a Jalabhishek Abhiyan with active community participation for conservation of ground water. Imbued with confidence following unprecedented community response to this novel initiative he convened a Mahila Panchayat to elicit the views of women to frame a new state’s policy for them. It was followed by a Kisan Panchayat where farmers drawn from all parts of the state voiced their concerns and gave valuable suggestions for a state policy on agriculture. A convention of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) was also held as part of the efforts to provide better marketing facilities to their products and to ensure an institutional credit facility to them. This goes to show the restoration of people’s faith in the system as well as their strong urge to derive maximum benefits from government schemes and programmes.

The economy of Madhya Pradesh continues to be agrarian. It was, therefore, but natural that he should have attached the top priority to farm sector taking initiatives to make it a lucrative proposition. At the same time it was ensured that there is no overemphasis on any particular sector at the expense of others.

Immediately after assuming the office as Chief Minister Shri Chouhan announced the constitution of a Kisan Ayog to find abiding solution to their problems of farm sector. He increased the quantum of relief for calamity-affected farmers considerably by amending the provisions of the Revenue Book of Circulars. At his initiative the state government reduced the farm loan interest rate to 7 percent. A sum of Rs. 1782 crore has been reimbursed to the M.P. State Electricity Board against pending electricity bills of the farmers. Besides, tariff subsidy to the tune of Rs. 500 crore has been provided to farmers to avoid the burden of enhanced tariff on them. Now the farmers do not require a separate electricity connection for thresher and the duration of temporary connection has been reduced from four months to one month. Moreover, Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme has been launched in nine districts and projects for remaining 39 districts have already been forwarded to the centre for sanction. A Sona-Chandi Yojana has been introduced to encourage the temporary irrigation pump consumers to take authorized power connections. The farmers getting meters installed have been exempt from minimum charges.

Irrigation potential for additional 2 lakh 60 thousand hectares has been created over last two and half years, which is a record. The endeavour is to create irrigation potential for 5 lakh 8 thousand hectare in next three years. Recently, the government sanctioned nine new irrigation projects costing Rs. 75 crore. On completion these projects would irrigation over nine thousand hectares. Special efforts are being made to finish the incomplete irrigation projects pending for many years. The work on Upper Banganga(Seoni), Urmil(Chhatarpur) projects has been stepped up and Bansagar project and Man projects have already been completed. Similarly work on Inidira Sagar, Bargi, Omkareshwar, Rajghat, Bawanthadi, Mahi and Sindh projects is going on apace.

A Rs. 1919crore Water Sector Restructuring Project has been implemented for renovation of the existing dams and all round development of the command area. Madhya Pradesh also enjoys the distinction of being the first state to implement a river- linking project by entering into a tri-partite agreement with Uttar Pradesh government and the central government to link Ken and Betwa rivers. Madhya Pradesh and Rajsthan governments have consented on a project for linking Parvati, Newaj and Kalisindh rivers with Chambal river. A master plan for this is under preparation.

A novel scheme has been initiated to encourage construction of irrigation ponds in agricultural fields under which 50 percent to 100 percent grant is provided. In order to promote bio farming a system is being put in place for certification of bio products in the state. The National Horticulture Mission has been implemented in 20 districts to boost the production of fruits, vegetables, spices and floriculture.

The irrigation tax has been rationalized in the state. Earlier, the rates were based on crop-wise irrigation but now these are based on water consumption.

Lack of road connectivity has been a major cause of poverty and lack of development in rural areas. Madhya Pradesh government made concerted efforts to improve both intra-state and inter-state road connectivity. The government increased spending on road sector. From year 2002-03 to 2004-05 an allocation of Rs. 1169 crore was made against which the allocation for 1004-05 to 06-07 is Rs. 3184 crore. During last three years 21 thousand 639 km length of roads has been constructed. Of this, 11 thousand 110 km is under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana connecting around four thousand villages to the main roads. Madhya Pradesh stood first in sanctioning and spending on rural roads in the country. There is a plan to construct another 40 thousand km length of roads in next two and half years.

Madhya Pradesh has topped the country in implementation of Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme providing employment to more than 42 lakh people. The performance has been profusely appreciated by the central government. The government has spent over Rs. 900 crore under the scheme, which is more than double to the next best state. It has helped check migration from rural areas in search of employment.

At the time the present government took over, the state was plunged into darkness .The government not only increased power production but also took concrete steps to strengthen the transmission and distribution system to improve power supply and to reduce the transmission losses. The target is to achieve self-sufficiency in electricity in next two and half years. Power generation has been increased by 1250 MW in last two and half years and the plan is to three thousand seventy five MW in the years to come. The state is pursuing power sector reforms in right earnest. As many as 92 special courts have been set up for disposal of cases pertaining to electricity pilferage. Over 25 lakh electronic meters have been installed.

The state government has paid equal attention to social sectors. For qualitative improvement of education in school education a comprehensive action plan has been executed. A Rs. 1870 crore ambitious project has been sanctioned this year to strengthen elementary education. Under this, 10 thousand 301 school buildings are being constructed. As many as 22 thousand 659 teachers are being recruited to ensure at least two teachers in every school. An Operation Quality has been implemented to impart training to untrained schoolteachers. Under Sarva Shikha Abhiyan a School campaign was carried out which brought about one lakh sixty eight thousand dropout children to schools. A number of decisions have been taken to improve the level of secondary education. The result of High School examination has improved from the previous year. year. In rural areas over 37 thousand girls were provided free bicycles to enable them to cycle their way to the high school outside the village.

A Gaon Ki Beti scheme has been launched to encourage meritorious girls in rural areas to get higher education.

In the health sector the state was faced with a formidable challenge to bring down the maternal and infant mortality rates, which is highest in the country. The government made concrete efforts to lower these rates. Last year the institutional deliveries increased from 27 to 46 percent in the state. In next two years it would be further increased to 80 percent and by 2012 to cent percent. Recently the government decided to bear the expenditure on the training of 500 nurses to remove shortage of nurses in the state. Free transport facility is provided to rural women for institutional delivery. In view of success of this scheme the Government of India has launched the Janani Suraksha Yojana. After a gap of 42 years the state government is going to set up a medical college in the state(at Sagar). The Deendayal Antyodaya Upchar Yojana has been very successful under which a person of scheduled cast or tribe belonging to BPL family is provided free medical treatment costing upto Rs. 20 thousand. Now it has been decided to extend it to cover BPL families of all sections. A Bal Shakti Yojana has been launched to improve the nutrition levels of children of upto five years of age. A total of 9 thousand 537 additional anganwadis and 31 new Child Development Projects have been sanctioned in the state. Under Rajya Bimari Sahayata Yojana the powers to sanction assistance upto Rs. 75thousand have been decentralized to the collectors. The government has started Mobile Hospital Scheme in 12 backward and tribal blocks. The amount for food to indoor patients in government hospitals has been increased from Rs. 8 to Rs. 20 per day per patient. The State has topped the country in implementation of Reproductive Health Progragramme. Ten district hospitals have been started and 41 community health centres sanctioned in blocks. A Vijaya Raje Scindia Janai Kalyan Yojana has been launched to encourage institutional deliveries.

Due attention has been paid to ameliorate the lot of weaker sections with special emphasis on educational and socio-economic development of people of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes, minorities and others. In 76 blocks of predominantly tribal districts block level schools of excellence have been set up. At seven divisional headquarters residential school each is being set up for students of scheduled classes. To promote education among tribal girls separate girls high schools are being set up at 85 tribal blocks. Basic facilities are being improved in the localities and habitations inhabited by people of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

India Today Conclave in the field of good governance ranked Madhya Pradesh as a good performer. At the initiative of the Chief Minister Shri Chouhan, the concept of Suraj has been implemented in the state. To facilitate prompt redressal of public grievance a Samadhan Online programme has been launched. Under this the Chief Minister reviews online the status of complaints from public with district collectors through teleconferencing between 10 am and 12 noons on the first Tuesday every month. The initiative has been successful which is borne out by the fact that in year 2005 a total of 13 thousand 132 complaints were redressed from January to April while during the corresponding period this year 36 thousand 122 complaints have been resolved.

As part of the efforts to ensure e-governance the state government has maximized the use if IT in governance and administration. For regular monitoring of the works being done by different departments a Monit System has been put is place. The Chief Minister reviews daily the work on the basis of information available on the website. Madhya Pradesh leads the country in starting the Cyber Treasury. Land records of all the districts are available online. The Rural Road Authority is making the payment to contractors online. Local Area Network is functioning in the Mantralaya. For the first time in India the clippings of over 100 newspapers are available on website.

Barely three years ago the industrialists were averse to investing in Madhya Pradesh due, mainly, to the absence of proper infrastructure during 1992 and 2003. The state government came out with an Industrial Promotion Police and Action Plan in2004 offering a slew of sops to small-scale, medium and large-scale industries. As a result investment proposals started pouring in. Now approximately Rs. 80 thousand crore proposals are either under consideration or are at execution stage. A number of companies have proposed to create Information Technology Parks, sector specific special economic zone and product specific special economic zones in Madhya Pradesh.

The state government has also chalked out programme “Destination Madhya Pradesh-2007” in association with India’s apex business chamber Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries to invite big-ticket investment and showcase state globally. The government is now organizing road shows in India as well as the globe to market the state potential. A recent meeting with industrialists from Baharain has also paved the way for fresh investment in tourism and hospitality industry.

With efforts of the state government construction work has now started on Rs. 10 thousand crore Bina Refinery project. Besides, Aditya Birla Group has proposed a sector specific special economic zone that would attract more than Rs. 20 thousand crore investments in Sidhi district. Vardhman group has proposed Rs. 14 hiudered crore investments to set up new textile unit in Budni near Hoshangabad. Genpact has proposed to invest Rs. 152 crore for development of Information Technology Park while Nahar Spinning Millis has proposed to set up a Rs. 233 crore yearn production unit in Mandideep and the HEG proposes to increase the capacity with an investment of Rs. 133 crore. By creating a Project Implementation and Clearance Board, the state government has shifted its focus on better aftercare, single point clearance and faster implementation of government policies.

With a view to harness tourism potential in the state government has paid unprecedented care to this fast emerging sector and has doubled to budget for this purpose. The new strategy of tourism promotion focuses on improvement and creation of adequate basic infrastructure, upgradation and augmentation of accommodation, catering and recreational facilities. Marketing of destinations and creating an environment conducive to attracting increased private investment in the tourism sector. A special package of incentives for the tourism industry has been provided which includes exemptions in luxury tax, commercial tax and entertainment tax. In or der to connect the tourist places with good roads a provision of Rs. 55 crore has been made.to facilitate the expansion of Bhopal and Indore Airports a provision oof Rs. 12 crore 40 lakh has been made for land acquisition.

The law and order situation in Madhya Pradesh is far better than in many other states. The Chief Minister Shri Chouhan has instructed in no ambiguous term the senior police officers not to give in to pressure from any quarter and discharge their duties without favour or fear. He has especially directed them to pay particular attention to the weaker sections of society including women, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other law-abiding citizens.

While it would be naive to claim that all is hunky dory in the state. A lot still remains to do in development and welfare sectors. The state cannot afford to sleep on the laurels. However, going by the performance of the government and unprecedented fast pace of development activities one would conclude that now Madhya Pradesh is poised for a giant leap to scale new heights of development and the day is not very far off when it would not be bracketed with most backward, but with the most forward states of the country. Going by the rapid strides in development one may aptly say that Madhya Pradesh is not fifty years old but fifty years young.

(Not to be published or broadcast before November, 1,2006)

D.K. Malviya