The major challenge before the government is to improve work culture within the government and resolve people’s problems as fast as possible. Staffing the key sectors like health and education is also a major task. We have large number of incomplete projects that were started years back. We have to complete them speedily so that benefits could reach out to people. We have to continuously improve our financial health and ensure compaction of the major projects like Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Bansagar, Bina Refinery etc. work on there major projects was pending on the ten years when are came to power. Immediate improvement in health and education sectors, the employment generating development initiatives and industrial development is a must. We are working out effective strategies. I am happy to inform that we have been able to improve our financial position without levying any new tax. It is only due to effective financial management we are also able to make substantial improvement in health, education, road and other sectors of development. The major bottleneck was the procures financial position and infrastructure situation we inherited Roads, Power projects, irrigation projects cannot be completed in days. They need lot of planning and finances. But now we have been able to over come these problems.

What is your major thrust in development?

Besides priority sectors already discussed, other thrust areas include agriculture, tourism and Information Technology. With effective and transparent governance we have made definite improvements in road and power generation. The government machinery is also now better placed to serve the people. “Online Samadhan” programme has been introduced for solving peoples’ problems; grievances redressal camps are being organized in districts. It is a matter of grave concern that even after more than five decades the people in urban as well as rural areas do not have greater access to basic civic facilities. We are also improving civic amenities in the urban areas.

Is rural Madhya Pradesh going to get sops in your regime?

In Madhya Pradesh about 70 percent of people are dependent on agriculture for livelihoods. So development of Madhya Pradesh cannot take place without development of rural areas. Pursuing this aim, we are connecting villagers with roads, all the buildings of primary health centers, community health centers and primary schools are being constructed and will be completed by next year. About 50 thousand teachers are being appointed to equip rural schools with teaching staff. Health and education facilities are also being improved. We have introduced new schemes for providing free health facilities to the needy. Food processing, Information Technology, Cultivation of Medicinal plants, better irrigation facilities and road connectivity will change the face of rural Madhya Pradesh within couple of years.

What are the expectations of people in urban areas?

Urban people want quality services and better infrastructure. Most of the cities are assuming the metropolitan status and are also confronting the problems associated with metro cities. Quality roads and good connectivity, regular water supply and quality supply of electricity are some of the expectations of urban population. Besides, they also desire greater access to housing and civic facilities. We have taken up well-thought measures to improve urban civic administration. Special projects are under process of implemention in major and medium towns to improve roads, drinking water supply and sevage disposals.

How you are going to create employment in urban as well as rural areas?

Employment generation is the top priority. We are promoting entrepreneurship in urban and rural areas. Vocational courses and training for youths have been introduced on a massive scale anticipating the manpower requirement in upcoming sectors like food processing, organic farming, bio-technology, Information Technology and agri-business. We have plans to connect urban and rural economies and markets by developing well-built infrastructure. This would create a lot of employment opportunities

What steps you have taken in education and health?

Education and health are the two sectors, which are important but lack requisite infrastructure because of years of negligence. We have devoted efforts to the task of improving health and education indicators. Infrastructure in health sector has not been conceived in terms of the health needs of growing population. We have enhanced the budget for medical services by 42 percent this year proposing to equip sub health centers in far off areas with adequate paramedical staff. Doctors on contracts are also being appointed for rural areas. There are some areas like those of Bundelkhand region had poor health infrastructure, which marred the delivery of quality health services. We have made budgetary provision for setting up a new Medical College at Sagar. Besides, upgrading of primary health centers into community hospitals, construction of buildings of ten district hospitals, expansion of Dindayal Antyoday Yojana, financial aid to expectant mothers for institutional delivery, launch of mobile health care units in the areas densely populated by tribal communities etc. are some concrete initiatives.

What kind of industries are needed in MP?

Manufacturing sector is growing outstandingly in the state but some new sectors also offer immense potential for fresh industrial investment mainly Information Technology, food processing and bio-technology. We want employment generating industries as we have technically skillful manpower and also congenial atmosphere. Besides, major industries have also drawn up investment plans for Madhya Pradesh. Because of its geographical location, Madhya Pradesh is poised to become a logistics hub for major industries.

What steps have been taken in tourism sector?

Our state’s tourism sector has remained unexplored due to lack of road connectivity and other tourism related infrastructure facilities. Secondly, there have been no serious efforts for branding of the state in terms of tourism, which has emerged as the most potential component of a developing economy. We have doubled the budget for tourism infrastructure improvement to Rs. 57.19 crore. Roads connecting to tourist sites are being either constructed or improved spending Rs. 55 crore. Bhopal and Indore airports are being developed into international airports. Water sports facilities at Bhopal, Orchcha, Gwalior and Jabalpur have been ensured. Emerging areas of tourism like health tourism, education tourism, farm tourism, rural tourism are also getting due attention.

We have adopted a number of micro and macro strategies to revitalize our economy. We have announced liberal packages for the prospective investors. Infrastructure is being improved at pace. We have strictly adhered to fiscal discipline. All major projects like Bansagar, Omkareshwar, Indira Sagar, Sardar Sarovar that could not take off due to a variety of reasons are nearing completion. These projects would serve the state as pillars of the future economy and pave way for faster economic transformation of the state. All our development initiatives have been designed to incorporate the future needs.