Bhopal : The Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the first priority of State Government is to bring smile on the faces of poor and needy persons. Therefore, the State Government has launched many welfare schemes. Antodaya Mela is being organised at district level so that the needy persons can get benefits of all welfare schemes at one place. The Mela will be organised every year. Efforts will be made to hold Antodaya Mela in every Vidhan Sabha segment from next year. The Chief Minister Shri Chouhan was addressing a huge gathering on the stadium premises here today.On this occasion, Opposition Leader in Lok Sabha and local MP Smt. Sushma Swaraj, BJP State President Shri Prabhat Jha, MP Shri Bhupendra Singh, Finance Minister Shri Raghavji, Public Relations, Culture and Higher Education Minister Shri Laxmikant Sharma, BJP state organizing secretary Shri Arvind Menon, MLAs Shri Harisingh Raghuvanshi, Shri Suryaprakash Mina, Shri Harisingh Sapre, Zila Panchayat President Smt. Sunita Sonkar, other public representatives, Bhopal-Narmadapuram Divisional Commissioner Shri Manoj Shrivastava, IG Dr. Shailendra Shrivastava and other officials were present.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government is laying special emphasis on health, education, self-employment and financial growth of poor farmers and vulnerable members of the society. 25 percent seats will be reserved for poor children in private schools from this year. The State Government will defray their tuition fee. The Chief Minister said that the boys would be provided bicycles and uniforms in line with girls. The guardians will be provided amount for purchasing uniforms and bicycles of their choice. Shri Chouhan said that a skill development mission programme has been initiated for the development efficiency and development of youths. New Industrial Training Institutes are being opened and old ones will be upgraded so that maximum youths can get jobs in industries.
Opposition Leader in Lok Sabha Smt. Sushma Swaraj has said that there are two measurements to assess the works of any government, viz., development and welfare. The Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has proved its mettle on these two measurements. She said that it is commendable job of the Chief Minister for wiping the tears of poor people.
Sagar MP Shri Bhupendra Singh said that Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan was a frequent visitor to the country side and used to meet framers and poor people before donning the mantle as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Shri Chouhan was very much aware of grievances of farmers and poor people due to his visits. No sooner did he become Chief Minister than he launched welfare schemes in the interest of this vulnerable society. As a result of this, the other states have taken a cue from Madhya Pradesh and launched schemes in their states.
In his introductory address, Finance Minister Shri Raghavji said that Antodaya Mela is playing an instrumental role in wiping the tears of poor people. Beneficiaries get benefits with transparency at the Antodaya Mela. Not only this, beneficiaries also get information about other schemes of government.
Collector Shri C.B Singh threw light on Antodaya Mela and informed that 274 developmental works to the tune of Rs 110 crore were dedicated and laid stone in Vidisha district. The beneficiaries have been given benefits of all schemes of Government of Madhya Pradesh. At the end of Antodaya Mela, the Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan distributed some symbolic cheques under various schemes.