A delegation of the British High Commission met with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here on Friday. Talking about the close ties between India and Britain under Commonwealth, the Chief Minister stressed on the need to strengthen the mutual support with British High Commission in the education sector and upgradation of urban poor slums in the State.
Chouhan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a new impetus to strengthen ties between the two countries.
In the meeting with the British High Commission, Chouhan said there were abundant opportunities of support in cultural, educational, sports and tourism activities. Highlighting State’s achievement, the Chief Minister said the growth rate has reached double digit at 10 per cent. For the last 5 years, the agriculture growth rate was stagnant on an average 20 per cent. On the efforts for building a new Madhya Pradesh as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of making of a new India till year 2022, Chouhan said efforts are being made to ensure economic development of all categories in Madhya Pradesh.
Special initiative has been taken for women empowerment in State. Fifty per cent reservation has been fixed for women in local bodies as a result of which 56 per cent women have been elected. Women have been given 33 per cent reservation in Government jobs (except Forest Department) and 50 per cent in teachers’ jobs. These efforts have increased women’s participation in power. Chief Minister Chouhan said that schemes like ladli lakshmi have been launched in the State so that women become more confident and to bring about a social change.
Mentioning the ‘Mil Banche Madhya Pradesh’ programme to connect the society with the efforts to ensure quality of education, Chouhan said more than 2.15 lakh elite are already connected with schools and children. They have been extending support in improving the condition of schools. These include political leaders, journalists, officers, traders and businesspersons. Enlightening on the possibilities of working together in the education field, Chouhan said that knowledge of English increases global possibilities of employment. More work can be done in this direction in the rural areas of the state. Efforts are on to upgrade the universities. Indore University is being upgraded. Focusing on tourism sector, the CM mentioned the cultural and historic wealth of the State.
British High Commission’s Minister of Cultural Affairs Allan Gemmell informed CM that this was his second visit to the city and said he was greatly impressed by the Tribal Museum. Gemmell urged for support to invite British tourists to the State. He also told about the support being given for English training to primary teachers and for research and English teaching system in higher education.