Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is completing 10 years in office on Sunday, said the State has made a lot of progress in building basic infrastructure but more needs to be done on health and education fronts.
So far, Congress leader Digvijay Singh was the only chief minister who had remained in office for 10 years.
While talking to media persons here, he said, "Though I am satisfied with the work done in the last 10 years, a lot still needs to be done in improving health and education scenario in the State. We have taken steps in these two areas, too, 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 and to address this problem we have decided to open seven new medical colleges," he said.
He stated that in the initial term, he had focused on building infrastructure, especially in the areas of road, power and water. Besides building quality roads, the State at present is generating 15,500 MW power. It has enhanced irrigation potential from 7.5 lakh hectares to 36 lakh hectare and raised food grain production from 166 lakh MT to 450 lakh MT per year, he added.
Speaking about his vision, Chouhan said, "I have a dream to make Madhya Pradesh a welfare State. In the last 10 years, my focus was on building infrastructure. Earlier Chief Ministers have also done a lot and I am continuously striving to take forward their work."
"I consider myself as the people's servant and the same is reflected in my behaviour also. This is my identity. But if I find someone not serving the people properly, I will not spare that person how so ever big he may be," Chouhan said when asked about criticism that sections of bureaucracy are not working for the people's welfare. To a query about talks of rising intolerance, he said this debate has no meaning.