Aqila Qureshi

‘We have taken part in many government functions but never before found the atmosphere so impressive, practical and sincere’. These views were expressed by Batik craft artiste Shri Mohan Singh Verma, soil craft artiste Shri Devideen Prajapati and Gond Painting artist Indubai Marawi at Rural Craftsmen and Artistes’ Panchayat at Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s official residence on September 17, 2007. The meet was part of various Panchayats which are being organised at the CM House from time to time since the last one year.

When the Chief Minister addressed the gathering, it became explicitly clear that holding of such Panchayats was no more a mere formality but through these Panchayats state government was making a sincere effort to provide a platform to people from different walks of life to share their bitter and real experiences and find out a solution to their long-standing problems. Such Panchayats enabled the Chief Minister to have a direct dialogue with a particular target group and know their views and problems. Things were not confined to merely sharing of woes and problems, but the Chief Minister had solid solutions for solving their problems. Shri Chouhan met last man in the last row at these Panchayats, heard problems and gave specific solutions to specific problems.

The Panchayats held at the official residence of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan include Mahila Panchayat on July 30, 2006, Kisan Panchayat on August 30, 2006, Adivasi Panchayat on January 6, 2007, Van Panchayat on February 6, 2007, Anusuchit Jati Panchayat on April 6, 2007, Kotwar Panchayat on June 22, 2007, Udyog Panchayat on July 29, 2007, Khel Panchayat on August 29, 2007 and Karigar Va Shilpi Panchayat on September 17, 2007. Following are brief introductions of some of the important announcements made by the Chief Minister at these Panchayats.

Addressing the first Mahila Panchayat of the state, Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced several welfare plans for women. The important announcements at Mahila Panchayat included raising reservation of women to 50 percent from 33 percent in local bodies, beginning of gender budgeting in the year 2007-08, opening bank account in the name of girl from the time she is born into a poor family and giving her Rs one lakh when she attains the age of 21 years, opening of Women's Desk in selected police stations where only women could file their complaints, arrangement for security and financial assistance to women and witnesses in the cases of harassment and torture, provision of advocate to such women if required, 10 percent reservation to women in police force and Rs 10,000 award for giving information about killing of girl child embryo.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan took following decisions at the Kisan Panchayat held on August 30, 2007;

Establishment of Kisan Kalyan Kosh (Farmers' Welfare Fund), reduction in rates on availing loans from cooperative banks, renaming Agriculture Department as Farmers' Welfare and Agriculture Department, Rs 50,000 grant for constructing 'Balram Tal', start of Atal Talab Yojana, grant for purchasing bullocks and bullock-carts, establishment of electronic weights in all the Mandis of the state and award for best farmers.

At Adivasi Panchayat, the Chief Minister announced to increase all stipends and facilities being extended to tribal students at different levels, giving three milch animals to each tribal family in 11 districts, starting of Kamadhenu Yojana, converting forest roads into Swaraj Roads, new Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojana and many other important decisions including job-oriented training to landless tribal labourers.

The decisions taken at the Van Panchayat included reserving one-third posts in Forest Committees and reserving either president's or vice-president's post in such committees, increasing Tendu plucking rates from Rs 400 to Rs 450 per standard bag, raising incentive money for Tendu Patta collection from 40 to 60 percent, clearing partly the dues of Tendu leaves collection of the year 2005 within one month, increasing the temporary lease of residents of forest villages till they get permanent lease deeds and starting Rs 125 crore development works apart from provision of Rs 240 crore before converting forest villages into revenue villages.

The Chief Minister also announced several important decisions and welfare schemes at Anusuchit Jati Panchayat. Shri Chouhan decided to constitute a committee headed by Minister of State for Scheduled Castes Shri Prakash Sonkar for simplification of the process of issuing caste certificates. He also announced to constitute Safai Ayog (Sanitation Commission). Rs five crore grant and bank loan facility would be provided to 5000 sanitation workers for to start of respectable business of their own while 500 jobless scheduled caste youths would be provided Rs 2.50 crore grant and bank loans for the same purpose. About stipends to students belonging to scheduled caste, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan announced henceforth increase would be made in the amounts of these stipends in proportion to dearness. At the same time, arrangements of studies of English and computer would be made at the post-matric hostels.

Shri Chouhan announced that landless Kotwars would be paid monthly remuneration of Rs 1500 in place of Rs 1000. The honorarium of those Kotwars who have up to three acres of land would be raised by Rs 200 and now they would get Rs 1000 per month. Those who have between 3 to 7.5 acres of land would now get Rs 600 in place of Rs 500 and honorarium of those who have up to 10 acres of land would be get Rs 375 per month instead of Rs 300. The Chief Minister also sanctioned Rs 2 crore for Kotwars’ uniforms. Jobs on compassionate ground would be provided to survivors of Kotwars if eligible. An officer would be posted at the CM house and a separate telephone connection would be provided to him so that Kotwars can convey a village’s problems directly to CM house.

After hearing various problems of small entrepreneurs at the Laghu Udyog Panchayat, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan announced that store purchase rules would be reviewed in favour of small and village industry entrepreneurs by July 31, 2007 and and implementation thereon would begin immediately. The Chief Minister said that those small and village industry entrepreneurs who would get supply orders to the tune of Rs 25 lakh would be given the facility of depositing only Rs 25 thousand lump sum performance guarantee money on state-level tenders. This guarantee would be in the shape of bank security.

A lot of announcements were made at the Khel Panchayat by Chief Minister Shri Chouhan.

• Rs 4.13 crore would be sanctioned for completing sports infrastructure and stadiums lying incomplete due to non-availability of central grant.

• Vikram Puraskar awardees would be declared as Excellent Players.

• Additional amount of Rs 25 lakh would be allocated for giving awards to the players getting medals at national level competitions.

• Rs 10 lakh would be sanctioned for accident insurance cover for players of Madhya Pradesh.

• Rs 1 crore would be made available this year for the construction of international level sports village at Satgarhi near Bhopal.

• Rs 5 lakh provision would be made for providing a maximum of Rs 25000 grant to a player for purchasing sports kit.

• Remuneration of rural sports trainers would be enhanced to Rs 750 per month from Rs 600 while the monthly honorarium being given to contract Youth Rural Coordinator posted at Rural Youth Centres would be increased from Rs 1500 to Rs 1800 per month.

• Rs 35 lakh would be allocated in the first phase of establishing Sports Fair Shops at divisional headquarters by players self-help groups.

• Training centres of various games and sports would be started in various regions and Rs 60 lakh would be allocated for establishing these feeder training centres.

• Player-trainers would be appointed on contract basis against the vacant posts of District Sports Trainers at Rs 3000 per month.

• The lifelong livelihood honorarium being given to players of international repute would be increased to Rs 10000 per month.

• New turf would be laid at Bhopal’s Aishbagh Stadium.

• Chakde India film would be exempted from entertainment tax.

• Panchayats would be given powers to develop sports grounds and organising competitions there.

• A committee would be constituted to receive suggestions about allotting free residence and plot to players.

• State Sports Council would be reactivated and its regular meetings would be held.

• Reservation to players in government employment schemes would be considered.

• New games and sports would be added to the list for the purpose of extending grant.

Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan also announced a lot of decisions at Karigar Aur Shilpi Panchayat for the benefit and welfare of rural artisans, sculptors and artists. He gave instructions that bamboo, wood and soil should be made easily available to them. Wood and bamboo should be provided from government depots at reduced prices. Job-oriented Training Policy would be implemented in entire state from October 2, 2007. Arrangements would be made for registration and certification of skilled and unskilled artists and their placement in various industries. State government would bear 50 percent expenses if training is undergone at a private institute and in case of a BPL candidate the state government would bear cent percent expenses.

Artisan Cards would be issued through which an artisan can avail up to Rs two lakh bank loan for opening handloom or handicraft unit. Under Cluster Approach all the artisans engaged in same profession would be clubbed together in the form of a federation and the state government would bear establishment and administrative cost of the federation for five years. For working capital, the state government would allocate a lump sum amount to the tune of Rs 25 lakh. Seventy-five percent expenses or a maximum amount of Rs 2 lakh would be borne by the state government on developing brand for the products made by these artisans. The federation would be authorised to utilise the government property/assets lying idle or vacant. Indore Haat would be established at a cost or Rs 2 crore at Indore’s Lal Bagh. Haats would be developed at all the divisional headquarters on the lines of Bhopal Haat and Rural Haat. A Rs 2 crore Thread Colouring Centre would be established. With a view to promoting export, the first buyer-seller meet would be organised in February, 2008.