I extend my heartiest greetings and good wishes to the people on the 60th Foundation Day of Madhya Pradesh.
This year the joy and celebrations of this historic day is shadowed by the grim drought like situation due to deficit rains. However, I have full confidence in the ability and grit of the people to deal with such crises as one man. We will certainly tide over the situation with mutual cooperation and collective efforts.
I often think about the uniqueness of Madhya Pradesh that overwhelms me no end. The heartland State represents a mini India in true sense. It may be likened as a bouquet which has flowers of varied hues and fragrances.
Nature has been bounteous to Madhya Pradesh that is why its soil is called Ratnagarbha. We have sacred and vast rivers like Ma Narmada, Kshipra, Mandakini, Betwa, Tapti, Sone and Chambal on the one had, there are vegetation rich marvelous Satpura and Vindhyachal ranges on the other.
Madhya Pradesh boasts of three world heritage sites in Khajoro, Bhimbetka and Sanchi besides countless fascinating tourist places and national parks. We have the proud privilege of having Chitrakoot that witnessed the lilas of Shri Ram during his exile and Ujjain having Sandhipani Ashram where Shri Krishna received primary education. Two of the Jyotirlingas Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar are in our state.
I often think why with such specialties Madhya Pradesh lagged behind in development and progress for such a long timeIJ I conclude that lack of proper infrastructure to translate potential into performance had been the main reason. When I got the opportunity to serve the state as the first public servant I gave the top priority to infrastructure development. Improved infrastructure led to rapid industrialization and other economic activities got a tremendous fillip. We have been able to draw the attention of prospective investors from within and outside the country to the potentials of Madhya Pradesh. We gave major boost to agriculture and increased irrigation facilities like never before. All these efforts helped rid the state of the derogatory tag of BIMARU state.
I call upon all the people of the State to cooperate with the efforts of the government for all round development and progress of the state. This would also help in the progress of the country.
(From the blog of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan)