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Tag: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

  • Madhya Pradesh to implement new youth policy; Chandrashekhar Azad statue to be installed, says CM

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Saturday announced a novel youth policy to be implemented in the state on National Youth Day (January 12, 2023). 

    Inaugurating the state-level Youth Panchayat, which marked the 116th birth anniversary of the country’s freedom struggle hero Chandrashekhar Azad, in Bhopal, the CM said the state will have its new youth policy.

    “It will include all suggestions and participation of youths. The new youth policy will be implemented across the state on Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary (National Youth Day) on January 12.”

    He also announced the commencement of the recruitment for one lakh government jobs in the state. The process would begin on August 15.

    Moreover, two lakh youth will be linked to self-employment scheme every month. The benefits of various schemes will be made available to the youth by celebrating Employment Day every month.

    Addressing the gathering, the CM said “special Youth Awards will be started in the state to recognise the achievements of youngsters in various spheres of creative excellence.”

    He further announced the formation of the MP State Youth Advisory Council which will advise the state government on issues concerning the youths. The Council will have, among its members, the youth from all spheres, including scouts-guides, student unions, Nehru Yuva Kendra and Jan Abhiyan Parishad.

    The CM also announced that winners of youth panchayats held in different districts of the state will be sent by the state government to international borders, including the Leh-Ladakh to see how the defence forces of the country were guarding the nation’s borders in the most extreme climatic conditions.

    “Under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana, we’ve been rendering free travel to elderly population to visit various pilgrimages across the country. Under our Maa Tujhe Pranam Scheme, we take our youths to various international borders to instill among them patriotic fervour. The winners of individual youth panchayats at district level will be rewarded with travel to the international borders under the ‘Maa Tujhe Pranam’ scheme.”

    The CM also added that a suitable place will soon be decided in Bhopal for installing a giant statue of Chandrashekhar Azad.

    “Young bikers who set off from Bhopal on Thursday for Chandrashekhar Azad’s birthplace Bhabhra in state’s Alirajpur district, have returned with soil from the birthplace of the freedom movement hero. The same soil will first be kept at the Shaurya Smarak in Bhopal. Later the same soil will be used in the foundation of Chandrashekhar Azad’s statue in Bhopal.”

    Chouhan also said that two to three days long Youth Will be organised every year in the state.

    The Youth Panchayat was also addressed by the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur and MP minister for sports and youth welfare minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia.

    Addressing the event Eric Solheim, the former Executive Director of Environment Programs at the United Nations, recalled the contribution of Amar Shaheed Chandrashekhar Azad. 

    He said that pollution, climate change and environmental protection are the main challenges facing the youth at present. An example can be set before the whole world by developing Madhya Pradesh as a solar state and as a natural state. 

    He said that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan plants saplings every day. The youth of the state should follow this. He also called for adopting solar energy and reducing the use of plastic.

    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Saturday announced a novel youth policy to be implemented in the state on National Youth Day (January 12, 2023). 

    Inaugurating the state-level Youth Panchayat, which marked the 116th birth anniversary of the country’s freedom struggle hero Chandrashekhar Azad, in Bhopal, the CM said the state will have its new youth policy.

    “It will include all suggestions and participation of youths. The new youth policy will be implemented across the state on Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary (National Youth Day) on January 12.”

    He also announced the commencement of the recruitment for one lakh government jobs in the state. The process would begin on August 15.

    Moreover, two lakh youth will be linked to self-employment scheme every month. The benefits of various schemes will be made available to the youth by celebrating Employment Day every month.

    Addressing the gathering, the CM said “special Youth Awards will be started in the state to recognise the achievements of youngsters in various spheres of creative excellence.”

    He further announced the formation of the MP State Youth Advisory Council which will advise the state government on issues concerning the youths. The Council will have, among its members, the youth from all spheres, including scouts-guides, student unions, Nehru Yuva Kendra and Jan Abhiyan Parishad.

    The CM also announced that winners of youth panchayats held in different districts of the state will be sent by the state government to international borders, including the Leh-Ladakh to see how the defence forces of the country were guarding the nation’s borders in the most extreme climatic conditions.

    “Under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana, we’ve been rendering free travel to elderly population to visit various pilgrimages across the country. Under our Maa Tujhe Pranam Scheme, we take our youths to various international borders to instill among them patriotic fervour. The winners of individual youth panchayats at district level will be rewarded with travel to the international borders under the ‘Maa Tujhe Pranam’ scheme.”

    The CM also added that a suitable place will soon be decided in Bhopal for installing a giant statue of Chandrashekhar Azad.

    “Young bikers who set off from Bhopal on Thursday for Chandrashekhar Azad’s birthplace Bhabhra in state’s Alirajpur district, have returned with soil from the birthplace of the freedom movement hero. The same soil will first be kept at the Shaurya Smarak in Bhopal. Later the same soil will be used in the foundation of Chandrashekhar Azad’s statue in Bhopal.”

    Chouhan also said that two to three days long Youth Will be organised every year in the state.

    The Youth Panchayat was also addressed by the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur and MP minister for sports and youth welfare minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia.

    Addressing the event Eric Solheim, the former Executive Director of Environment Programs at the United Nations, recalled the contribution of Amar Shaheed Chandrashekhar Azad. 

    He said that pollution, climate change and environmental protection are the main challenges facing the youth at present. An example can be set before the whole world by developing Madhya Pradesh as a solar state and as a natural state. 

    He said that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan plants saplings every day. The youth of the state should follow this. He also called for adopting solar energy and reducing the use of plastic.

  • Madhya Pradesh official gets show-cause notice for arranging ‘cold, inferior quality tea’ for CM Chouhan

    By PTI

    CHHATARPUR: A Madhya Pradesh government official was served a notice for arranging “cold and inferior quality tea” for Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at Khajuraho airport in Chhatarpur district, but it was withdrawn following an uproar.

    A show-cause notice was issued to Junior Supply Officer Rakesh Kanhua who was responsible for arranging tea and breakfast during the CM’s transit visit at the airport on Monday, Rajnagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) DP Dwivedi said.

    However, following outrage on social media over the notice, Chhatarpur district collector Sandeep G.R has cancelled the notice served by Dwivedi.

    Dwivedi clarified that the tea and breakfast arranged by Kanhua were not served to the chief minister as he didn’t take a halt at the airport but only changed the aircraft at the airstrip.

    Chouhan was on his way to Rewa for campaigning for the urban bodies polls. “Kanhua was tasked with arranging tea and breakfast during the CM’s transit visit at the Khajuraho airport at 11.30 AM on Monday,” Dwivedi said.

    He said it was found that tea arranged by Kanhua was cold and of inferior quality. “According to the menu, you were entrusted with the responsibility of arranging the tea and breakfast but the quality of the tea provided to the chief minister was inferior and it was served cold,” stated the notice issued by the SDM.

    It said this can create an embarrassing situation for the district administration, raising a question about the protocol meant for VVIPs. The SDM had sought an explanation from the junior supply officer within three days.

    As the copy of the notice was widely circulated on social media and invited criticism, the district collector issued an order, stating “the chief minister has made no comment on the protocol violation, thus the show-cause notice issued to the junior supply officer in this regard has been cancelled”.

    On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesman Narendra Saluja took a dig, saying, “the people may even not get ration or not be able to get an ambulance, but the chief minister should not get cold tea”.

  • Amarinder Singh likely to be named NDA candidate for Vice President

    By Online Desk

    Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is in the race to become the next Vice President of India.

    Sources said that the NDA is likely to name the fromer Punjab Chief Minister as its candidate for the Vice President’s post.

    “Several names are doing the rounds of which the prominent ones are Amarinder Singh, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. The vice presidential candidate will be finalised by the top BJP leadership and the Parliamentary Board,” said a BJP insider.

    Singh is currently in London for a back surgery. However, a close aide of the former Punjab Chief Minister said that no confirmation has been received yet proposing Singh’s name as NDA’s nominee for the Vice President’s post.

    ALSO READ | Capt Amarinder Singh to merge party with BJP, claims saffron party leader

    There is also a buzz in BJP circles that incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu could be given a second term, but as of now there have been no official deliberations on this.

    Singh left the Congress and formed the Punjab Lok Congress after he was removed from the post of Punjab Chief Minister last year. He contested the recent Punjab Assembly polls in alliance with the BJP.

    The BJP-led NDA candidate is all set to become the next Vice President as the voters are the Members of Parliament and the BJP has a huge mandate in the Lok Sabha while in the Rajya Sabha, it is the single-largest party having more than 90 seats.

    In the last election in 2017, the Opposition had fielded Gopalkrishna Gandhi but he lost to Naidu. Naidu polled 516 votes while Gandhi could manage only 244 votes.

    The Vice Presidential election is scheduled to be held on August 6.

    (With agency inputs)

  • Clashes over SC/ST Act in Gwalior-Chambal in 2018: Madhya Pradesh govt mulling withdrawal of cases 

    By PTI

    GWALIOR: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said his government will take steps on the request from several communities for withdrawal of cases related to violent protests over the SC/ST Act in Gwalior-Chambal area four years ago.

    He told reporters here that delegations from the SC/ST communities as well as those from the general category had met him on this issue during the day.

    “People from both sections have expressed the need for not having any difference or enmity in society. In the protests that took place in Gwalior-Chambal region on April 2 (2018), many cases were registered against both sides. Now people from both sides want these cases withdrawn,” the CM said, “This is a new era of social harmony. The government will take serious steps in this direction (withdrawal of cases),” he asserted.

    During a protest against the provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act on April 2, 2018, violent clashes were witnessed between members from the general category and SC communities.

    Meanwhile, the CM also laid the foundation stone of the Devraj Institute of Medical Sciences, a private medical college, in a function attended by Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Narendra Singh Tomar.

    Addressing the event, Scindia said air connectivity between various cities had increased due to the initiative of the chief minister, adding that new flights are going to start for Gwalior, Jabalpur and Bhopal from June 3.

    Tomar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to open one medical college in each district of the country and MP CM Chouhan was taking this initiative forward. 

  • Madhya Pradesh: Parashurama to be part of school curriculum, scholarship for Sanskrit students

    Express News Service

    BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday made a slew of announcements to coincide with the Bhagwan Parashurama Jayanti and Akshaya Tritiya.

    A key announcement is the inclusion of the teachings of Bhagwan Parashurama (considered the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu) in the school syllabus.

    “Though the books would have been published by now, I’ll still call the curriculum committee and direct them to include a lesson on Bhagwan Parashurama in the curriculum. All the students should learn Sanskrit, Bhagwan Ram, Parashurama, Krishna, and Bhagavad Gita. None can object to it, as this is our Sanatan culture, which should be taught to students,” Chouhan announced at an event to unveil the giant statue of Bhagwan Parashurama in the LalGhati Gufa Temple in Bhopal.

    Importantly, four years back in April 2018, a decision was reportedly taken by the then Shivraj Singh Chouhan government to include a chapter on Bhagwan Parashurama in the state’s school curriculum.

    He also announced the increased appointment of Sanskrit teachers/scholars in the state. “So far 1900 posts of Sanskrit teachers have been filled, while the process of recruiting Sanskrit teachers for remaining posts will continue. Till the time the requisite posts of Sanskrit teachers aren’t filled, we’ll utilize the services of qualified Atithi Shikshaks (guest teachers) to ensure that Sanskrit education continues uninterrupted in the state.”

    Chouhan further announced starting scholarships for Sanskrit Karma Kand students. “If students becoming doctors can get scholarships, then similar scholarships need to be started for Sanskrit students as well.”

    Further, the CM announced to raise the monthly remuneration of temple priests (who don’t get proper donations, are located in remote villages, and don’t even have land) to Rs 5,000.

    He further announced that no land of any temple in the state will be auctioned by the state, if at all the land is auctioned it will be done by the Pujari (temple priests).

    “The seers are seated on the stage of this event, so a committee of seers and scholars will soon be formed, which will ensure that temple land remain intact, as such lands have been sold/fragmented at many places in the past. Many people have donated land in the memory of their parents and forefathers, so the sale of such land shouldn’t be allowed. The committee will look into the matter to ensure that there is no government interference in issues of temple land, decisions pertaining to temple lands across the state will be taken by the temple priests and no one else.”

    The announcements were made from a stage, which was graced by senior Brahmin politicians of BJP and Congress, including state BJP president VD Sharma, ex-Bhopal mayor and senior BJP leader Alok Sharma, senior Congress leader and ex-union minister Suresh Pachauri and ex-MP minister and sitting Congress MLA PC Sharma, who was the minister for religious affairs and spirituality department in the erstwhile Kamal Nath-led Congress government in MP.

    Also, seated on the same stage was a top Hindu spiritual guru Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj, who is the Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of the biggest Akhara, the Juna Akhara.

    ALSO READ | Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan lays emphasis on exploring economic potential of cow-rearing

    The announcements at the event not only formed part of the BJP government’s saffron agenda but were also intended to appease the Brahmins, whose vote is crucial in parts of Gwalior-Chambal, Vindhya and Bundelkhand regions.

    It should be noted that the state goes to the polls next year.

    Tuesday’s announcements by the MP CM came nearly a week after he had made public plans to teach Bhagavad Gita to college students in the state.

    Last year, the MP government decided to start lectures on RSS founder Dr KB Hedgewar, Jan Sangh icon Deendayal Upadhyaya, spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda, Dr BR Ambedkar, Mahrishi Charak and sage Sushruta in the month-long NMC foundation course of MBBS First Year students.

    Also, the government had decided to teach Applied Philosophy of Ramcharitmanas as an optional subject to BA First Year students in colleges and universities.

  • Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan meets PM Narendra ​Modi, discusses development initiatives

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to brief him about various initiatives of his government, with the two leaders also discussing a host of issues.

    In a tweet, Modi said, “Met MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who discussed the good governance initiatives of the MP Government and how their transformative schemes are bringing a positive change in people’s lives.

    Issues related to law and order besides the naxal issue, Ken-Betwa river interlinking project and several other matters also figured in their discussion, with Chouhan briefing Modi about the measures taken by his government, officials said.

  • Won’t spare rioters; stern action against them will continue: Chouhan on Khargone violence

    By PTI

    MHOW/BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday warned that his government will not spare anyone found indulging in riots and also justified the demolition of ‘illegal structures’ belonging to those allegedly involved in the recent violence in Khargone.

    Curfew was clamped in Khargone on Sunday evening following incidents of arson and stone-pelting during Ram Navami celebrations. Police have so far arrested 121 people in connection with the violence.

    “The houses of persons belonging to the SC community were set ablaze (by the rioters in Khargone). Why shouldn’t action be taken against such people?” Chouhan asked while addressing a meeting in Mhow town where he paid tributes to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 131st birth anniversary. Ambedkar was born in Mhow.

    “Some people are conspiring to spread riots in the state. They want to set the state on fire. I appeal to people to maintain peace and harmony. Nobody should bother about their security and honour, but if someone indulges in riots, then Mama (as Chouhan is popularly called) will not spare. The stern action against rioters will continue,” the chief minister said.

    Chouhan also criticised senior Congress leader and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh for posting false pictures on social media.

    Police have registered FIRs against Singh for allegedly promoting religious enmity after he tweeted a picture of a mosque in another state while commenting on communal violence at Khargone.

    Asking people to celebrate all festivals, including Hanuman Jayanti, Good Friday and Eid, with enthusiasm and harmony, Chouhan said, “My government is with all of you.”

    Chouhan assured that the houses torched by the rioters will be re-constructed by his government, but those who set them on fire will not be spared.

    According to him, his government has freed 21,000 acres of land from mafias using bulldozers. “This land will be distributed among the poor,” he announced.

    Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chouhan said that he has developed five places associated with Dr Ambedkar as ‘Panch Teerth’.

    “Today, I have decided to include these Panch Teerths – Mhow, Nagpur (Deeksha Bhoomi), Delhi, Mumbai and London – also in the MukhyaMantri Teerth Darshan Yojana,” he added.

    The CM slammed AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi for his criticism over the violence in Madhya Pradesh, and asked him to visit the state to see for himself that all are safe and secure in the state irrespective of their caste and religion. “Here, if action is taken, then it will be against those indulging in wrongdoings,” Chouhan said.

  • Madhya Pradesh government planning to teach Bhagavad Gita in colleges: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    By PTI

    BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government is planning to teach the Bhagavad Gita in colleges, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday.

    He has read the Gita since childhood, he said, interacting with students here.

    When asked whether Yoga and meditation helped him cope with the stress of handling the COVID-19 situation, Chouhan said they develop the capacity to cope with difficult situations.

    The Bhagavad Gita too helped him during this period, the chief minister added.

    “Bhagavad Gita is a wonderful scripture. I have read Gita since childhood,” Chouhan further said.

    “We are thinking of teaching Bhagavad Gita in the second year of degree course,” the chief minister added.

    The Gita teaches us to keep on doing our work without thinking of results, the chief minister said.

    “This is called Nishkaam Karmayog…This knowledge enables people to keep on working which in turn brings encouraging and constructive results,” he said.

  • Madhya Pradesh extends last date of Kharif crop loans repayment by 15 days to April 15

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government decided on Thursday to extend by 15 days the last date for repaying Kharif crop loans by farmers.

    A state cabinet meeting chaired by CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan decided to extend the last date for repaying the Kharif crop loan for farmers from March 31 to April 15.

    Addressing the meeting, the CM said the decision to provide loans to farmers for Kharif crops at zero percent interest rate was taken by the state government in the past. The loan repayment period was to end on March 31 (Thursday).

    “Many farmers have not been able to deposit this amount. After the expiry of the period, they will become defaulters and they will have to pay more interest after they become defaulter. In view of this, the last date for repayment of Kharif crop loan is being extended to April 15, this will facilitate the farmers to repay the loan and they will not be a defaulter,” the CM said.

    The CM also said that the interest of the loan for the extended period would be paid by the state government, which would amount to about Rs 60 crore. This amount will be deposited by the state government on behalf of the farmers. With this, farmers will be able to deposit their loan amount in a convenient way and they will not become defaulters.

    The state cabinet also approved a Rural Transport Credit (RTC) model to provide public transport in the rural areas of the state. The cabinet also approved to implement the model as a pilot project in Vidisha district for six months, starting from May 1 and relaxed the related Acts and rules for vehicles to be operated under the RTC model.

    Importantly, the state cabinet’s two day meeting at hill station Pachmarhi last week had decided to come up with a Rural Transport Policy to run public transport buses in rural areas.

    The Cabinet approved the implementation of Devaranya Yojana in the state. Devaranya Yojana will be implemented with the objective of creating a value chain for production, storage, marketing of medicinal and aromatic plants by identifying 11 special plant producing areas in the state and developing these areas.

  • 5.21 lakh poor get pucca houses under PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) in Madhya Pradesh

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: Tuesday turned memorable for 5.21 lakh poor families in Madhya Pradesh as they got pucca houses of their own under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).

    Joining these poor families on the Grih Pravesh (house-warming) event as the special guest was none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While PM Modi joined the event virtually from Delhi, MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan joined the event physically at the state-level house-warming event in Chhatarpur district of Bundelkhand region.

    At the event, the PM gave a fervent call to every state for constructing 75 Amrit Sarovars (big ponds) in each district within a year, starting from the Varsh Pratipada (Hindu New Year on April 2) as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava celebrations.

    “Lot of groundwater has been exhausted and it’s time we dedicate ourselves to constructing 75 Amrit Sarovars in every district to quench the thirst of Mother Earth. I urge every state, each local body and local panchayat to work on this, starting from Varsh Pratipada. The MNREGA funds can be utilized for this and the results will be greatly beneficial for the land, nature, small farmers, women and even birds and animals,” the PM appealed.

    While gracing the house-warming event, the PM emphasized that “these 5.21 lakh houses built in villages under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are not just statistics. These 5.21 lakh houses are the identity of the poor getting strong in the country. This campaign of providing pucca houses to the poor is not just a government scheme but a commitment to instill confidence in the rural poor. This is the first step in bringing the poor out of poverty. These houses reflect the service spirit and a campaign to make women of the villages ‘lakhpati’.”

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    As against a few lakh houses constructed earlier, the PM said that this government has already handed over 2.5 crore pucca houses out of which 2 crore are in the rural areas. Not even the pandemic could slow this campaign. In Madhya Pradesh, 24 lakh out of the approved 30 lakh houses are already benefiting, among others, Baiga, Sahariya and Bhariya tribe people.

    Houses under PMAY come equipped with toilets, Saubhagya Yojna electricity Connection, Ujala Scheme LED bulb, Ujjwala gas Connection and water connection under Har Ghar Jal, saving the beneficiaries the hassle of running around for these benefits.

    The Prime Minister said that among the houses constructed under the PMAY scheme, almost two crore are registered in the name of women. This ownership has strengthened the participation of women in the financial decision-making of the household. Reiterating the government’s commitment to enhance the dignity and ease of living of women, the Prime Minister said that in the last two and half years more than 6 crore households have been provided tap water connection for drinking water.

    Addressing the event, the MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the journey of building pucca houses for the poor in MP will not stop, as Rs 10,000 crore has been provisioned in this year’s state budget for building 10 lakh houses this year, to fulfil the PM’s dream of every poor having pucca house of own by 2024-25.

    The PM said that the government has spent Rs 2 lakh 60 thousand crore for providing free rations to the poor. As the scheme has been extended for the next 6 months, an additional Rs 80,000 crore rupees will be spent on this.  In tune with the government’s commitment to provide full benefit to the intended beneficiaries, the government has weeded out 4 crore fake beneficiaries from the records.

    The Prime Minister said that for a long time, the rural economy was restricted to agriculture. Along with encouragement to modern technology like drones and ancient systems like natural farming, the government is opening new avenues in the villages.  He complimented the Madhya Pradesh government and the Chief Minister for creating new records in the country in the procurement of food grains from farmers on MSP. Farmers in MP also received Rs 13000 crore under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.