Dinesh Malviya

After coming out with flying colours at the hustings in the December last, the Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan took literally no time to pitch into furthering what he calls his mission to build a Golden Madhya Pradesh. Not given to resting on his oars, he made it amply clear from day one that he means business. Calling upon his ministerial colleagues to stop rejoicing the electoral victory, he directed them categorically to go about their business in right earnest. And the latter did not disappoint him.

Credited with having put Madhya Pradesh on a new trajectory of development during his first term as Chief Minister Shri Chouhan drew up a roadmap for his second term and set it forth to the ministers and officers, assigning top priority to seven sectors. He called them seven resolves.

The seven priorities are (1) infrastructure development (2) attracting greater investment (3) making agriculture profitable (4) providing better health and educational facilities (5) women empowerment (6) better security and law and order, and (7) good governance and resources development.

Shri Chouhan is not all word and no action. He set up seven working groups for effective action towards realizing these goals. They have been directed to submit their first report before March 31, 2009.

It is a well known fact that nature has been unsparing in its bounty to Madhya Pradesh, but man has failed. Correcting this Shri Chouhan gave top priority to infrastructure development to leverage state’s vast natural resources for all round development of the state. The last five years saw construction of roads, the arteries of development, at an unprecedented fast pace. As a result 40 thousand km roads length was constructed and upgraded over a period of five years. As many as 4215 roads were constructed under PMGSY connecting 7489 villages

Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country where the government of India has sanctioned five road projects costing Rs. 1022 crore 52 lakh under Viability Gap Funding. These roads are Chandrapur-Barwani, Matkuli-Chhindwara, Mandsaur-Sitamau (upto Rajstahan border), Bhopal-Dewas and Jawara-Nayagaon. There is a target to complete 19 more road projects important for development of tourism activities.

As far as electricity is concerned there is a general agreement that the situation has considerably improved in comparison to five years ago. The state government increased power generation capacity from 3890 MW to 6684 MW, which is a record. Transmission losses have come down from 7.93 to 5 percent. A Rs. 2900 crore Action Plan has been implemented to power to wells of farmers and for voltage improvement 6570 km power lines have been laid and 260 new power sub stations set up. One thousand MW Indira Sager Hydel Power Project has been completed one year ahead of schedule. Besides, 520 MW hydel power generation capacity has been created by completing Omkareshwar hydel power project. Ten MW capacity has been created by constructing Rani Avanti Sagar canal power house.

Probably Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country where round-the-clock power supply is being made to industry for last three years.The power supply situation needs further improvement, but the government would get the better of the crisis soon.

The working group on infrastructure development would assess the present scenario and identify the shortcoming in this crucial sector. An action plan would be drawn up to fully realize the power generation capacity of the state. Assets of roads, canals and drinking water schemes would be constructed. The resources for infrastructure development would be identified and private capital investment in this sector would be analyzed and improved. Effective action would also be taken in housing and environment sector and job opportunities would be augmented.

In his previous term the Chief Minister made well-contemplated efforts to invite private investment in various sectors of development and organized investors meet at many places. As many as 309 MoUs were signed for investment of Rs. 3 lakh 72 thousand crore at these meets. Of these, MoUs for investment of Rs. 1 lakh 30 thousand crore are taking a concrete shape. Madhya Pradesh is now the fifth most preferred investment destination in the country.

The working group on investment increase will make an assessment of the present status of public and private capital investment, take measures for further improvement and undertake works pertaining to make taxation more attractive, land allotment policy, increase in employment opportunities and mobilization of resources.

Deeply pained by the present pitiable condition of agriculture the Chief Minister has given priority to turning it into a lucrative proposition. For this, production cost would be reduced and it would be ensured that the farmers get remunerative return of their produce. Subsidized power would be supplied to farm sector and irrigation facilities augmented besides ensuring adequate and timely availability of fertilizers and seeds. The state government has paid a bonus of Rs. 100 per quintal on the purchase of wheat on support price and effective arrangements have been made for procurement of wheat. Under Krishak Rin Rahat Yojana, on payment of fifty percent of outstanding bill remaining amount is waived off. The scheme has been extended till March 2009. In last five years, despite unprecedented inflation power has been supplied at subsidized rates to farm sector. The state government has provided subsidy of about Rs. 4600 crore for subsidized power to farm sector.

The interest on cooperative farm loans has already been reduced from 16 percent to five percent. Now arrangements have been made to further lower it to three percent from March this year.

The working group for making agriculture profitable would study the present cropping pattern and decide a more beneficial cropping pattern on the basis of climate and soil of the state. Necessary changes would be made in agriculture economy and investment in farm sector would be increased. The pressure on agriculture would also be reduced. Allied activities like animal husbandry and fisheries would be promoted and employment opportunities in these sectors would also be increased.

The last five years have witnessed unprecedented improvement in education scenario of Madhya Pradesh. To provide better service conditions to the teaching staff and to ensure them due dignity the “Karmi” culture has been eliminated. As many as 3500 higher secondary, high and middle schools were opened on July,1 2008. A total of 55 thousand new teachers were recruited and a scheme has been launched to reward teachers who have given better results. As a result, the result of 10th and 12th examinations has considerably improved.

As part of expansion of technical and professional education a medical college has been set up in Sagar, a veterinary college in Rewa, an agriculture college at Ganj Basoda, an agricultural university and a music university in Gwalior. A number of prestigious central educational institutes are going to be set up at Bhopal following special efforts made by the state government for this. For universalization of education now high schools would be set up at every five km.

The state government has also given priority to improvement of health facilities. The capacity of district hospitals has been increased from 9000 to 13000 beds. In last one year alone, over 100 new health institutions have been sanctioned. Institutional deliveries have increased from 26 to 77 percent following the special efforts made by the government. The severe malnutrition has also come down to 0.56 percent.

The working group on education and health would act on the Millennium Development Goals, improve quality of institutions and their working, link education to employability of educated youth, standardized the services and establish coordination between private and voluntary sectors.

In last five years, the state government has given equal importance to social sector, particularly women empowerment and its achievements have been recognized at national level. Janani Suraksha Yojana, fifty percent reservation to women in local bodies, Gaon Ki Beti Yojana, free cycles to girl students, Kanyadan scheme, Ladli Laxami Yojana and gender budgeting have gone a long way in empowering women in the state. The Ladli Laxami Yojana of the state has been studied and adopted by other states.

The working group on women empowerment would evaluate the status of women and undertake suitable measures to further improve their social, economic and educational conditions besides bringing about a positive attitudinal change in society towards women and girls. It would increase participation of women in decision making, public life and administration. It would also work towards Millennium Development Goals and increase employment opportunities.

The state government has made fruitful efforts to provide better security to people and maintain law and order. As a result of this, Madhya Pradesh continues to be an island of peace in the country. Dreaded dacoits have been gunned down putting an end to the reign of terror in Chambal region. General law and order situation has been far better in comparison to many states. The working group on better security would assess the security arrangements, bring about improvement in related departments, ensure better investigation and training facilities, strengthen intelligence set up and coordination between police and community..

Over last five years the state has experienced better governance and a responsive administration ensured by the government under Suraj Mission. The various initiatives like One Day Governance, holding of public welfare camps, Samadhan Online, and maximum use of Information Technology have considerably improved governance in the state. In yet another initiative “Ideasforcm” website has been launched through which any individual or institution can give their suggestions to improve administration and governance. State Wide Area Network scheme has already been sanctioned to interlink all development blocks and over 900 Common Service Centres are being set up in the state.

One would, thus, conclude that the Chief Minister is firmly determined to see that Madhya Pradesh becomes a Golden State.