Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that all possible efforts were made to remove the hardships of citizens, besides labourers and farmers during the corona period. Our country lives in the villages. Work in the infrastructure sector will give a boost to economic activities and current problems can be overcome. Laying a network of roads in particular is making the way to development easier.
Chouhan was virtually dedicating about 13,000 rural roads constructed by the Rural Development Department at Minto Hall on Thursday. The roads in districts where by-elections are to be held were not included in the dedication programme. Gram panchayats, self-help groups, villagers and public representatives took part in the programme.
While appreciating the rural road works undertaken during Corona period, the Chief Minister congratulated the Panchayat and Rural Development Department for its active role. Chief Minister Chouhan said that the life of common people changes with the construction of roads. Former Prime Minister Late Atal ji had pledged to build roads on a large scale in the country. Prime Minister Modi is also taking an interest in this direction to speed up road construction works.
Chouhan informed that the goal is to undertake maximum work in the housing sector in villages along with road construction.
He further said that complete arrangements for the treatment of Corona infection were made in the state in March. In this time of crisis, the local and migrant laborers were attached to various tasks in order to solve their problem of livelihood.
The Rozgar Setu portal was developed. Under the Livelihood Mission, women registered their participation in the battle against Corona by creating masks, soaps and sanitizers through self-help groups in a large quantity. Several steps were also taken for the welfare of farmers.
Prime Minister Modi opened the doors of the Food Corporation of India godowns. Ration was made available to the needy. Chouhan said that the state government will not allow any hindrance in public welfare works.
Lack of funds will not pose a hindrance in such works. Chief Minister Chouhan said that focus will be on Khet Sadak Yojana. This will enable the farmer to send the produce grown by his hard work for sale easily. On the occasion, Chouhan also urged people to protect themselves from Corona. Chief Minister Chouhan said that the face mask is the vaccine at the moment. Everyone should protect themselves, there is safety in caution.
Disaster turned into opportunityThe Department of Panchayat and Rural Development constructed 4,120 kilometer long 12,960 roads in the rural areas of the state turning the disaster into an opportunity during Corona period.
These roads have been constructed at a cost of Rs 1359 crore under various schemes of rural development. As many as 46.39 lakh labourers were employed in 4.83 lakh works in the 33 districts where roads were dedicated.
A total of 11.62 crore man days have been created. These roads were built while ensuring development process along with providing employment to the villagers in the Corona period.
Similarly, 15 lakh man days were created in this financial year under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana includes 1104 km long 171 roads and 47 major bridges costing Rs 691.41 crores. During this period, the Department of Panchayat Rural Development constructed 3016 km long 10,792 cement concrete roads for easy movement to schools, habitats etc within villages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme which are proving useful for the villagers.