Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that it is our good fortune that Madhya Pradesh got the opportunity to host the 23rd meeting of the Central Zonal Council in the year of Amrit Mahotsav of independence.
Chouhan while welcoming the guests who visited Bhopal, the city of Lakes in the council meeting, said that the federal structure of India has emerged stronger in the last eight years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have to forget the differences of ideology and find a way for India's development. Central Zonal Council, under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is working for the fulfillment of the resolutions of Prime Minister Modi and cooperative federalism is gaining strength. With institutional measures like NITI Aayog, Chief Minister's Council and Central Zonal Council, the states and the Centre are working together like Team India. Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing the meeting of Central Zonal Council at Kubhabhau Thakre Auditorium. It is noteworthy that CM Chouhan is also the Vice-Chairman of the Council.
The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushpkar Singh Dhami was present in the meeting of the Central Zonal Council under the chairmanship of Union Home and Cooperative Minister Amit Shah. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi virtually attended the meeting. State Home Minister Narottam Mishra, Finance Minister Jagdish Deora, Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains and officials from the Centre, Madhya Pradesh and other states were present. Chief Minister Chouhan welcomed the guests by presenting a statue of Raja Bhoj as a memento. Chouhan presented products to the guests like Chanderi stole, tiger print, artifacts made from sandstone and herbal tea manufactured under the "One District-One Product" scheme in different districts of the state.
Chouhan said that the Central Zonal Council is not only a bridge of cooperation between the Centre and the state, but it has also become a powerful medium for sharing of mutual thoughts and experiences. Many complex and policy issues have been resolved through council meetings. The Council has made the relations between the Centre and the States strong and positive in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.
The Chief Minister said that Madhya Pradesh is working continuously to realise the resolve of Prime Minister Modi. The state has achieved a growth rate of 19.74 percent at the prevailing rates, which is the highest in the country. With the aim of making India a $ 5 trillion economy, work is going on in the state with the target of providing a contributing of 500 billion dollars. Madhya Pradesh was the first in the country to make a roadmap for self-reliant Madhya Pradesh and work is going on at a rapid pace. The state has made development, public welfare and Swaraj, the three mantras of Prime Minister Modi, as its mission. Increasing capital expenditure leads to infrastructure development and new employment opportunities are also created. Therefore, the state is now making capital expenditure up to 04 percent of the state's gross domestic product. A budget of Rs 48 thousand 800 crore has been kept for capital expenditure this year, which is the biggest ever budget provision.
Chouhan said that our biggest priority is employment and self-employment. Success has been achieved in connecting the sisters of 43 lakh families in various economic activities through self-help groups. Chief Minister Chouhan said that special efforts are being made for diversification of agriculture and promotion of natural farming. A special campaign will be started from September 25, the birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, for cent percent saturation in the beneficiary-oriented flagship schemes of the Central and State Governments.