R.M.P. Singh

State’s Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken unto himself the resolve to make Madhya Pradesh a leading state in development. For this, he has left no stone unturned. He is going door-to-door for this noble cause. He has embarked on the efforts to make citizens aware towards development and has given the slogan “Aao Bayaayen Apna Madhya Pradesh”. (Come let’s make our own Madhya Pradesh).

With a view to giving a concrete shape to this slogan, Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has started reaching out to the people living in remote areas pleading them to become partners in the developmental process. For this purpose, Shri Chouhan makes night halts at villages and interacts with cross section of society including elders, youngsters and children. He tells them stories, imparts yoga training and enquires about their progress in education, sports etc. Like a common man, he halts at roadside tea stalls to have snacks during his journeys and asks about the situation of the teashop owner’s business amidst sips of the beverage. When it comes to cleanliness, the Chief Minister does even hesitate to wield a broom.

Shri Chouhan embarked on his yatra under the campaign ‘Aao Banaayen Apna Madhya Pradesh’ from famous place of pilgrimage Amarkantak, from where lifeline of Madhya Pradesh, Narmada river, originates apart from Son river and two mountain ranges – Vindhyachal and Satpura – meet. According to Puranas, Lord Shankar lives in every pebble on the banks of the Narmada. The scriptures say that the punya, which is received by having a dip in the Ganga, can be had only by only having a glimpse of the Narmada. It is from the holy place of Amarkantak that Chief Minister Shri Chouhan started his yatra on the Republic Day. On that occasion, the Chief Minister threw light on the outlines of his yatra while addressing villagers, Baiga tribals, youths and children and urged them to contribute their mite in the state’s development. The Chief Minister also gave the message to citizens of the state to save trees, conserve water, rid people of addiction and ensure cleanliness.

Large number of villagers had gathered to hear the Chief Minister. Later, the Chief Minister visited schools and imparted knowledge of yoga to students telling them its importance. He also advised them on how to prevent misuse of power and water. He also apprised himself of the educational and sports activities from the students.

While commencing his yatra, Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced to set up a Development Authority for all round development of Amarkantak on one hand and on the other hand he administered the oath to rid Madhya Pradesh’s lifeline Narmada from pollution. He unveiled 336 construction works worth Rs 98 crore 76 lakh in Amarkantak and laid foundation stones for development and construction works to the tune of Rs 71 crore 40 lakh. He also distributed forest right pattas among tribal people.

The Chief Minister interacted with the villagers directly and enquired about a number of schemes from them. The Chief Minister had snacks at Ram Sweets hotel at Karanjia bus stand in Dindori district during one of his journeys. At that time, he looked liked a common man in all respects. He also enquired about the health of the hotel owner.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan reiterated his commitment to making Madhya Pradesh a golden state before the people gathered on the occasion and called for everyone’s contribution towards fulfilling this cherished goal. During his journey, Shri Chouhan appeared in the role of teacher also. He visited the primary school of Nariya village, sat in the chair of the teacher and asked the children about their education and midday meal. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan visited Shahpura village and talked about creating awareness for community development.

The Chief Minister told the villagers to help develop such a state where no one is poor and unemployed and facilities of education and health are available to one and all. He exhorted the youth to work unitedly since they have to shoulder the responsibility of future. At the higher secondary school conducted by Shahpura Tribal Welfare Department, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan donned the role of a yoga guru and taught Pranayam and Surya Namaskar to children.

While addressing a public meeting during the yatra, the Chief Minister said that his priority is the people and not politics. During the visit to Mandla and Dindori districts, make it clear that shortage of funds will not be allowed to come in the way of development. He told the villagers ‘rise, awaken and develop self-confidence’. He made a night halt at a small hamlet named Sagar. Before departing to Bhopal, he held cordial talks with villagers, youths and students of the village and advised them to make Sagar an ideal village.

The second leg of the Chief Minister’s ‘Madhya Pradesh Banao Yatra’ began from such tribal-dominated districts as Jhabua and Alirajpur. Here also, he had direct interaction with villagers. He made it explicit that the initial benefit of development should reach the poor.

The Chief Minister along with his wife interacted with the residents of village Chhatkala in Alirajpur district. The Chief Minister unveiled 10 rural road schemes constructed at cost of Rs 10 crore here. Addressing a mammoth gathering, he said that poverty is a hurdle in the state’s path of development. Development can be ensured only after removing poverty. He exhorted the villagers to send their children to school with a view to developing an educated state. He said that the state will develop only when every persons is honest towards his duty be him or her a teacher, doctor, engineer or politician. Here the Chief Minister’s style was somewhat different. Here he was seen in the role of a teacher, social worker and guide all rolled into one.

Welcoming the Chief Minister, villagers of Chhatkala tied a turban to his head. Commenting on this, Shri Chouhan said that now the villagers would have to maintain the honour of this turban. He distributed cheques under the Ladli Laxmi Yojana, forest rights pattas and cheques to the beneficiaries of self-help groups. The Chief Minister also interacted with children. He visited the local hostel and had talks with students there. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan also visited Bhabhra village, the birth place of great martyr Chandrashekhar Azad and paid tributes to him. He said that no stone will be left unturned for Bhabhra’s development.

On the second day of his yatra, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan visited villages in Jhabua and Dhar district of Indore division and urged the villagers to turn this campaign as a mass movement. He planted the sapling of Ashoka tree at village Dewalwadi along with his wife and also did ‘shramdan’ in deepening of a pond in village Thaliyar. He administered de-addiction pledge to the villagers.

The Chief Minister started the third leg of his “Madhya Pradesh Banao Yatro” from Gudgaon Chilkapur in Betul district. Here he made the clarion call to ensure developing while rising above political affiliations. He called for constituting development committees for ensuring better development. He distributed cheques among various beneficiaries.

In village Athner’s Bazar Chowk, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan himself wielded a broom and undertook cleaning with a view to giving the message of cleanliness to people.

The Chief Minister unveiled Rs 7 crore development works in Gudgaon Chilkapur. He made a night halt at village Sakadehi. Inspecting the anganwadi there, he said that the nutritious food for children should not be meddled with. He talked cordially with villagers.

In Chitrakoot

During the his “Madhya Pradesh Banao Yatra”, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan performed the bhumi poojan of Rs 24 crore “Destination Project” in the holy city Chitrakoot and said that service to the poor is the state government’s first priority. He inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 78 development works to the tune of Rs 61 crore 69 lakh. He also launched the campaign to cleanse river Mandakini.

Night halt at Parasmaniya Pathhar

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan made a night halt at village Parasmaniya Pathhar, which is situated on a hill. The villagers’ happiness know no bound when they found the Chief Minister among them along with a large number of officials. He advised the villagers on savings, de-addiction and keeping the environment clean. He urged the people to contribute in the state’s reconstruction. He said if every section of society discharges its duties with honesty, there is no reason why the dream of Madhya Pradesh’s reconstruction is not realised. He laid stress on education, as it was vital for the state’s reconstruction. He also addressed a farmers’ convention here.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan also unveiled a number of development works during his journey in the areas of Ratlam district. He said that historic city Ratlam will not be allowed to remain backward. The Chief Minister made a night halt at village Berda. He heard the villagers’ problems and issued instructions to solve them.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan undertook the tours of Panna and Chhatarpur in Sagar division. In village Garhpadariya, he told the villagers that separate feeders for urban and rural areas will be set up with a view to ensuring uninterrupted power supply. He gave the slogan “Jal hai to kal hai” to the villagers. On this occasion, he was accompanied by noted water conservationist Shri Rajendra Singh alias Paniwale Baba.

The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the scheme to revive Shyamri river in village Karri in Chhatarpur district. The cost of this works is Rs 22 crore.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan visited about one dozen villages in Vidisha district of Bhopal division to have a firsthand knowledge of the villagers’ problems. He made the villagers aware of the objectives of Madhya Pradesh Banao Yatra. He said that all the villages in the state will be connected with all-weather roads by the year 2013. The Chief Minister inaugurated and performed bhumi poojan of a number of works in Gyaraspur. He said that education was vital for the state’s development and therefore, every child should be sent to school.

During the visits to Rewa and Satna districts of Rewa division, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan assured farmers that they will be allotted the rest of land, which will be reclaimed due to decreasing the height of Lilhi dam and Tamas barrage in Satna district. He announced to open a college at Rampur Baghelan. During the tour of Sidhi district, the Chief Minister said that vocational education will be promoted in the state. The Chief Minister interacted with residents of about one dozen villages between Kusumi and Tikri villages and came face-to-face with their problems. He inspected drinking water arrangements and nutritious diet at Anganwadi centres. He announced to open an I.T.I. in Kusumi. He said that more than one lakh teachers will be appointed in the state.

During the tour of Shivpuri district in Gwalior division, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan suspended the CEO of Janpad Panchayat for dereliction of duty and terminated the services a panchayat sachiv. He said that public servants are there to serve people and if they resort to dereliction of duty, stern action will be taken against them. He announced in Prochha village’s general meeting that school uniform would be given to “Ladlas” (boys) also like “Ladlis” (girls). While inspecting the passing out parade of BSF at Temanpur, Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that a grant of Rs 50 lakh will be given to BSF and its canteen will be free from VAT. A number of facilities will be extended to the medal-winning jawans of the force and a separate cell will be constituted for the welfare of jawans’ families.

The Chief Minister made a night halt at village Kota Naka bordering Rajasthan. He enquired villagers about their problems and instructed officers to solve them at the earliest. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan announced to establish an industrial area in Shivpuri district where employment will be made available to the local people. The Chief Minister was according a warm ovation throughout the district.