Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the work of development and the campaign to change the lives of the people is going on in the state. The progress of the country lies in the progress of the women. If women move forward, the family will move forward, if the family moves forward, the society will move forward, and if the society moves forward, the country will move forward. The government is continuously working for the welfare of the women. Calling upon all the women of the state, he said that everyone should work together and bring a new era in Madhya Pradesh through a new social revolution. Remove poverty, educate children and take everyone forward.
Chouhan attended the Ladli Bahna Mahasammelan at Niwali in Barwani district on Thursday. The Chief Minister performed bhoomi-pujan and dedicated works worth Rs 371 crore 25 lakh. This includes bhoomi-pujan of 9 works worth Rs 221 crore 72 lakh and dedication of 5 works costing Rs 149 crore 53 lakh. Chouhan also distributed benefits under various schemes.
Chouhan said that he is the real brother of all the sisters of the state. I will not let sorrow remain in their lives. I saw injustice and discrimination towards sisters since childhood and made it my life’s mission to remove it. Today, many schemes are being run for the welfare of women in the state, due to which there has been a big change in their lives. Today I am feeling blessed and successful in my life because I was able to do something for my sisters.
Chouhan said that women have more respect and honour in tribal areas. The sex ratio is high in these areas, but in other areas continuous injustice has been done to sisters and daughters. Where the son was considered the torchbearer of the family, the daughter was a burden. After becoming the Chief Minister, I started schemes like Mukhyamantri Ladli Lakshmi, Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah-Nikah, Sambal in the state and now Ladli Bahna Yojana has been started. Sisters and daughters have great respect in the society and they are becoming empowered and self-dependent.
The Chief Minister said that today women are also working to run the government in the state. Women were given 50 percent reservation in panchayat and urban bodies in the state, due to which they have become sarpanch, president of jila panchayat, president of nagar panchayat are running the government. 30 percent reservation is being given to women in police and 50 percent reservation is being given in the recruitment of teachers. House, land and property in the name of women, have been given 2 percent exemption in registry's stamp duty.
Chouhan said that for years it has been my wish to give gifts on Rakhi to all my sisters of the state. Then I thought why this gift should be given only once in a year and not every month. Ladli Bahna Yojana is the result of this thinking, in which sisters will be given Rs 1000 every month. Under the scheme, women in the 23 to 60 age group from poor and middle class families, whose annual income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh, who own land less than 5 acres and there is no four wheeler in the house will be eligible. Forms will be filled for the scheme by April 30 and from June 10th, Rs 1000 will start coming into the accounts of the women. Chouhan instructed the Collector to ensure that the form of every eligible woman is filled.
Chouhan said that a survey will be conducted immediately to reach Narmada water through pipeline in Pansemal. He announced an additional Rs. 2 crore for the development of every Nagar Panchayat of the state. He said that the work of Kajal Mata Irrigation Project, Sendhwa Lift Irrigation and Pansemal Lift Irrigation will also be done. The CM also gave instructions to prepare DPR for 10 different ponds.
Chouhan inaugurated the programme with Saraswati Pujan and lighting the lamp. He welcomed, greeted and took blessings of the Ladli Bahnas. The sisters welcomed their dear brother Shivraj by applying tilak, tying rakhi and presenting tribal arrows and bows and Anga Vastra.