‘I SEE NO ANTI-INCUMBENCY. THERE IS NO THOUGHT OF MOVING ME TO THE CENTRE’
With little more than a year to go for the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN, 58, is gearing up for the challenge ahead. In an interview with Group Editorial Director RAJ CHENGAPPA, he outlined how the state was
Q. What makes you so confident that the BJP will win another term in Madhya Pradesh?
A. More than development, people have appreciated the welfare works the government has taken up. Wherever I go, the love and blessings of the people are evident.
Q.You have launched many programmes in the 12 years that you have been CM. What programmes have you envisioned were you to win a fourth term?
A. We are working as per a roadmap for 2020. Infrastructure— which includes roads, water and electricity—agriculture, industrial investment, urban and rural development, tourism, women’s emancipation and welfare of marginalised groups like SC, ST and OBC are the aspects that have been addressed.
However, for the future, employment is a focus area, especially development of skilled manpower. MP’s estimated agricultural growth rate is pegged at 29 per cent this year, but the challenge now is to shift from agriculture to entrepreneurship and industrialisation. Also, as part of the 100th anniversary year of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, we will focus on housing for the poor for which a law has been made, affordable rations and potable water for all low-income dwellings.
Tourism as an employment generator is another sector we are looking at. MP has immense potential. Quality in education and urban development will also be a focus area. Getting health facilities to rural areas is a challenge. We have set up seven new government medical colleges, but have decided to have mobile hospitals to ensure there are doctors in rural areas where they don’t want to live.
Q. Agriculture continues to grow at a fast rate in MP but, ironically, the farmers continue to protest. Why? A. The farmers’ unrest took place in only two or three districts, not the entire state. And I have always
‘Farmers’ unrest was only in two or three districts, not the entire state. And I have always maintained that farmers were not part of the protest’
maintained that farmers were not part of the protest. What, however, true is that bumper production precipitates decline in prices leading to farmer unrest. The state produced 32 lakh tonnes of onion but farmers did not get remunerative prices, which led to protests. The issue was addressed. The death of five people in the firing was unfortunate.
Q. Can buying out the produce of farmers be a long-term solution?
A. We are following a roadmap for doubling farmers’ incomes. The five pillars of this roadmap are: bringing down input cost, enhancing production, diversification of crops from conventional ones like wheat and soybean to horticulture, compensating farmers for losses and linking agriculture with dairy, poultry, fisheries and food processing.
Q. Agriculture has shown growth but the industry has not done well. Why? A. Madhya Pradesh was a BIMARU state. Industries were always limited and many of them closed down during Congress rule. We have been organising investor summits to attract investments. Between the 2014 and 2016 summits, a total of Rs 2,72,000 crore was realised, and about Rs 5 lakh crore investments have been agreed upon in 2016.
Q. How do you view the outcome of your Narmada yatra?
A. The next generation will inherit this earth and we should leave it in a state that does not threaten its survival. The Narmada is the mother of the people of MP. It is not a glacial river but one that originates from the forests. There has been large-scale deforestation in the last 100 years. After the yatra we decided to start a massive plantation drive on both public and private land.
Sewage treatment plants are being set up in 18 towns along the river banks. Cremation ghats are being moved away and people are being told not to throw pooja material in the river. Narmada sevaks (volunteers) have been appointed for awareness.
Q. What do you think of former CM Digvijaya Singh’s Narmada parikrama?
A. Why should I have a problem with a Narmada yatra? However, the people of MP are aware of Digvijaya Singhji’s thoughts, my views on it are not needed. If he does Narmada seva, he’ll get punya for it, his sins will be washed away.
Q. Is there a sense of anti-incumbency after 14 years of the BJP being in power?
A. I don’t see any anti-incumbency. You can speak to the people, you won’t see it either. People love you if you continue to work for them.
Q.There is a feeling that the government does not have much control over corruption in the state.
A. The MP government’s initiatives to tackle corruption have been appreciated all around. The public services guarantee act, the samadhan online, the e-tendering processes have all curtailed corruption. We have even terminated the tenures of corrupt IAS officers and police personnel.
Q. How do you react to the charge that implementation of schemes is tardy? That many schemes are announced but
‘The public services guarantee act, samadhan online, the e-tendering processes... have all curtailed corruption. We have terminated the tenures of corrupt IAS and police officers’
their implementation is weak? A. We’re continuously monitoring schemes on the ground and using technology for the same. Payments to beneficiaries of schemes is made online and yet if complaints are received, action is taken.
Q. What is the financial position of the state?
A. When I became CM, the state had a budget of Rs 21,000 crore. It has now increased to Rs 1.8 lakh crore. We have increased our own resources and are getting more money from the Centre. I firmly believe where there is a will, there is a way. There is no shortage of funds for schemes.
Q. According to an RBI report, there has been a drop in GDP due to demonetisation and GST. How has MP been affected?
A. There has been no adverse impact of demonetisation or GST in Madhya Pradesh. We have been recording double-digit GDP growth every year, which will continue this year too. The agricultural growth rate has been estimated at 29 per cent this year. It may come down by some points but will remain above 20 per cent. Demonetisation has reduced black money and widened the tax net while GST will also get more revenue for the country.
Q. What is your government doing for job creation?
A. We have a target of training 7.5 lakh people in skills through ITIs and skill development parks. The idea is to enable people to get jobs and also create self-employment. Traditional skills as well as new skills both are being promoted. A venture capital fund has also been created to ensure that no new idea for business suffers for lack of finance.
Q. Nitish Kumar imposed prohibition in Bihar. Will you do the same in MP before the elections? A. We are running campaigns to discourage drinking. I have respect for Nitish Kumarji but every state has its own issues. Sometimes stopping things through law opens up other problems. We’re reducing the number of liquor shops.
Q. You are the longest serving CM of MP. What lessons have you learnt along the way?
A. In a democracy, people are the most important resource. Leaders remember people at the time of elections but forget them later. I treat the state as a family and try and bring in people in the decision-making process. I think if decisions are to be accepted, then that is the best way forward.
Q. What if Prime Minister Narendra Modi asks you to move to the Centre?
A. As of now, I have been told to work in MP. I am a loyal soldier of the party, but there is no thought of moving me to the Centre neither at the Centre nor here.
‘I have respect for Nitish Kumarji, but every state has its own issues. Sometimes stopping things through law opens up other problems. We are reducing the number of liquor shops’