Madhya Pradesh now in the fast lane of growth

From being termed a laggard state in the 90s to its roads being compared to those in the US by none other than its own chief minister, Madhya Pradesh is attracting a different conversation around its mention. But the CM's remark is not as facetious as it seems. In the last decade or so, the state government has constructed 1.75 lakh km of roads and connected all its villages.

In fact, infrastructure has remained Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's primary focus ever since he took charge of the state in 2005. As per the official records of the state government, before 2003, the state generated 2,900 MW of electricity, which went up to 17,700 MW by 2017.

Chouhan, however, himself admits that when it comes to education and health in the state, a lot needs to be done. In 2015, talking about his 10 years as a CM, Chouhan had told the media:"Though I am satisfied with the work done in the last 10 years, a lot still needs to be done to improve health and education scenario in the state. We have taken steps in these areas as well, but we have to sort out the problem of shortage of doctors and teachers. We have opened hospitals in villages but there is a shortage of medical staff. To address this problem, we have decided to open new medical colleges."

A brief look at the last decade in Madhya Pradesh's history reveals a state on a path of steady progress.

Schemes galore

Schemes such as the Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak and Mukhya Mantri Khet Sadak Yojana have helped the government connect many villages and cities with roads. The state government has succeeded, under the Panch Parmeshwar Yojana, to make roads even in villages.

For a state known for its rich agricultural land, the government has launched many schemes to benefit the farmers. Also, this year, for the first time, water was made available to farmers at the tail end of irrigation projects. Electricity is being made available for farming for 8-10 hours each day. Also, a Mukhya Mantri solar pump scheme is being implemented.

Besides, a special campaign has been launched to convert temporary power connections into permanent ones. A campaign to link all farmers with cooperative laboratories is also in full swing in all development blocks for testing of soil. Farmers are being given copies of their revenue records, free of cost and at their doorstep.

Storage hassles

While there are so many incentives for farmers to increase production, there is little or no emphasis on storage and processing facilities. A study by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations stated that almost 43 non-peak of the total area under horticulture crops in the state was devoted to vegetables alone, making the state a key horticultural producer.

The problem, however, lies in the absence of strong storage and processing facilities. As a result, a lot of the harvest is sold at dirt cheap rates. This even led the farmers to launch a protest against the administration this summer.

Even as the Opposition party tried to gain mileage out of the farmer stir and use it as a tool against the state government, the movement soon fizzled out.

Namami Devi Narmade

The state government also launched the 'Namami Devi Narmade' programme this year. River Narmada is the lifeline of the state. During 148 days of the project, the Chief Minister, along with other state administration officials, visited 16 districts on both banks of the river.

The main aim of the yatra was to create awareness among the people to conserve the river water. Environmentalists, water scientists, saints, people from the fields of arts, literature and culture, Nobel prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, spiritual leader Dalai Lama, and representatives of organisations such as UNICEF took part in the yatra.

The state government has also set up a Narmada Seva Mission, which will work to maintain the flow of the river, proper sewage management in towns along the banks of Narmada, and make the banks green.

For women

The state government has been running women-centric schemes such as giving 50 per cent reservation to women in local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions. Officials in the state government claim that because of this reservation, women are being elected to more posts than those that are reserved for them. Also, 33 per cent of government jobs, except those in the Forest department, are reserved for women.

A proposal to reserve 50 per cent posts for women in the police force is also under consideration. Efforts are being made to empower women economically through a number of schemes, such as Tejaswani Women Empowerment programme, and constitution of self-help groups.

Smart cities

When it comes to Smart City projects, Madhya Pradesh is way ahead of other states. Planned action is being taken for projects related to making Bhopal and Indore smart cities. Work on street light poles, public bike sharing, smart roads, heritage protection, and re-construction has already begun. The tender process for other such projects is currently underway.

PROGRESS REPORT

Before 2003

Electricity: 2,900 MW
Roads; 45,000 km
Farm production: 831 kg per hectare
Wheat: 49.23L metric tonne
Rice: 17 lakh metric tonne
High schools: 1,515
Higher secondary schools: 1,517
Medical colleges: 5
ITIs: 222
Engineering and polytechnic colleges: 104
Mother mortality rate: 379 per lakh
Infant mortality rate: 86 per thousand

In 2017

Electricity: 17,700 MW
Roads: 95,000 km
Farm production: 1,785 kg per hectare
Wheat: 219L metric tonne
Rice: 54L metric tonne
High schools: 3,863
Higher secondary schools: 2,885
Medical colleges: 18
ITIs: 961
Engineering and polytechnic colleges: 301
Mother mortality rate: 221 per lakh
Infant mortality rate: 50 per thousand

VICTORIES

Making water and electricity available to farmers:
For the first time, water is being made available to farmers at the tail end of irrigation projects. Electricity is being made available for farming for 8 to 10 hours each day. A Mukhya Mantri solar pump scheme has also been started. A special campaign has been launched to convert temporary power connections into permanent ones and a campaign is being run to link all farmers with cooperatives.

Fair price for farm produce:
The Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana was launched to ensure that farmers got a proper price for their produce. When farmers register under this scheme, they will get the difference between the minimum support price and the model sale price within three weeks. Money will be paid for transportation, up to 15 km.

Improving ITIs:
Under the Mukhya Mantri Kaushal Vikas and Kaushal Yojana, the government will train 7.50 lakh youth each year. A global skill park is being set up in Bhopal, with the help of the Singapore government. Attention is being given to improve the condition of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the state.

Green Narmada banks:
Under the ‘Namami Devi Narmade’Yatra, the government tried to create awareness among people to conserve the river water with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan having visited 16 districts on both banks of the river. Environmentalists, water scientists, saints, people from fields of arts, literature, and culture joined the movement. On July 2 this year, 7 crore 35 lakh saplings were planted on both banks of Narmada.

Disposal of pending revenue cases:
This year, the government ran a special campaign for disposal of pending revenue cases, so that farmers and land owners could be free of daily hassles. All undisputed mutation, demarcation, and other cases were disposed within three months.

SETBACKS

• Unemployment: It is a huge challenge for the MP government. According to official records, the state has 14 lakh unemployed people, of whom 13 lakh are educated. The government has not advertised any vacancy in the last nine years, but just ahead of the elections, had advertised for 9,000 Patwari positions and 32,000 education worker positions, which would be rolled out soon.
   
• Crime: According to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), on an average, 17 children were kidnapped every day in MP in the last year. Around 6,016 cases of kidnapping and abduction of children had been registered in 2016. The state also featured third in the list of states in crimes against children.
   
• Vyapam scam: The Vyapam scam was an entrance examination, admission, and recruitment scam, unearthed in the state, in 2013. It involved politicians, senior and junior officials, and businessmen, who systematically employed imposters to write papers, manipulate exam hall seating arrangements, and supply forged answer sheets by bribing the officials.
   
• Malnutrition: At least 64 children below the age of six died every day in the last one year, due to malnutrition, making it one of the top challenges. MP also has the highest infant mortality rate in the country, with deaths of 52 children less than one year of age for every 1,000 live births. Also has highest death rate in rural areas, with over 8 deaths in a year for every 1,000 people, reveals a 2014 survey by the registrar general of India.
   
• Farmer suicide: As per reports, one farmer commits suicide every five hours. In the last 16 years, 21,000 farmers have ended their lives. Farmers are angry because the government neither made arrangements to procure the crop on time nor intervened to ensure a reasonable price. The NCRB attributed the reasons to crop failure, inability to sell produce, inability to repay loans, among other factors.