 "Growing urbanisation a big challenge: Shivraj Singh Chouhan")
Farmer-turned-politician Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, is working aggressively on some initiatives, including increasing irrigation cover, a home-grown crop insurance scheme and smart townships. He speaks to Shashikant Trivedi about these and his other plans. Edited excerpts:
You are a chief minister and a farmer. Are you, as a farmer, satisfied with the government and its policies?
Not just me, but the entire farming community in the state is satisfied. And I have sufficient data to corroborate this; it is reflected in figures and data. When we took over the government, the state had only 750,000 hectares of cultivable area under irrigation. Now it has gone up to 3.6 million hectares, a record in itself. We have offered zero per cent loans to farmers, another first in the country. And, our seed replacement rate has gone up to 30 per cent, another achievement in agriculture reforms. In crude terms, if you want to see growth in rural economy, you should compare the number of vehicles, say tractors, available a decade ago and now. There is a phenomenal growth in all indicators. We have done our best in agriculture reforms and for the betterment of farmers. So, satisfaction among farmers is visible and evident.
Q You have delivered but has the delivery system also improved?
Let me put it this way. A few years back, when farmers used to haul their yields to the mandis, none was there to attend to them. They were ignored or faced harassment and insults; be it on payment or on accommodating their commodities at the mandis. In contrast, farmers are now invited to the mandis through short message service (SMS) on their designated mobile phones. The mandis make their payments instantly through electronic fund transfer, with full transparency. We have not only simplified the process but have also improved the system for the betterment of our farmers. Had these things not been there, farmers might have been pelting stones at us instead of giving the mandate for a third time.
You have claimed achieving almost 25 per cent record growth in agriculture and allied activities. What next?
Natural calamities have affected farmers and these are beyond our control. However, we have not given up. We are in the process of giving the final shape to a new home-made crop insurance scheme to mitigate losses in case of natural disasters, price crash or low productivity. The main idea is to ensure a minimum income during a crisis. It is at a conceptual stage and is in my mind. Insurance experts from across the country are readying a blueprint. I don’t know how successful I would be. I am pained when I see farmers suffering. Secondly, I have now altered the 2018 irrigation target. We would be covering 5 million hectares instead of the targeted 4 million hectares. Irrigation forms the base for agriculture, and agriculture is a quick means of creating jobs. So my prime task is to carry water to un-irrigated fields by whatever means required. Irrigation is a top priority for a state like Madhya Pradesh. If we can irrigate more land, we will be able to create more jobs, improve the purchasing power of the rural population. Once this purchasing power is increased, they will spend more and, eventually, it would create more jobs. It is a kind of economic cycle and my task is to ensure that this cycle is complete.
But do you think only availability of water can serve the purpose?
We want to do a lot more. Like, we have to experiment, change the crop pattern in the state. Our farmers need to adopt traditional and alternative crops. How long can our farmers continue with the two-crop pattern. We have to motivate and encourage them to adopt horticulture and floriculture, too, even other allied activities. Such a move would not only help farmers but would also attract the food processing industry. We are in the process of continuously creating infrastructure. For example, we recently set up a composite logistics hub near Hoshangabad on a public-private partnership basis. It would create opportunities and a linkage between the food processing industry and farmers.
Despite all these efforts, employment is yet a big challenge. Isn’t it?
If you were present at a recent Yuva Panchayat at my residence, you would have seen the various products young entrepreneurs had showcased. Our youth are more enterprising now, they are creating jobs for others. I felt uplifted on seeing their efforts. They were offered loans under two schemes — the Yuva Udaymi Yojana and Mukhyamantri Swarojgar Yojana — we launched a few years ago. All youth might not be getting loans under these schemes. But those who have have became successful and have generated jobs not only for themselves but for others too. In the endeavor to create jobs, our focus would remain on micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in each village, so that our economy remain vibrant. These young entrepreneurs have created 50,000 jobs through government-sponsored schemes. Now we are inviting self-help groups to do the same. Some of these groups are performing excellently.
Does it mean large-scale industries are now not a priority?
No. During the last few years, three textile manufacturing units came up in the towns of Budni and Ashta and have created nearly 15000 jobs. An equal number of jobs are expected from the information technology projects coming up at various locations. All job-providing industries are our priority area, but the focus would remain on micro, cottage and small-scale industries.
What do you see as a fresh challenge?
Growing urbanisation is a big challenge now. As money is flowing towards villages and the purchasing power of rural people is growing, urbanisation would increase. I am mulling over creating smart townships, say between Indore and Bhopal. The concept of smart cities does not necessarily mean one has to follow a prescribed formula. What I am thinking and planning is to create towns for those rural people who want at least one residential unit in urban areas. These townships can come up anywhere across the state, where we can ensure minimum basic facilities besides those defined under smart city concept.
What about villages?
We will have to make ideal villages by improving roads and promoting industries there. Our social sector programmes are largely focused on villages, be it save the girl child, save water, sanitation drive, health or education programmes.
But health and education services also should be spruced up...
Both are priority areas of my government. We have done a lot so far. However, I would lay emphasis more on ensuring quality education to the rural and urban poor, by creating model schools and other such institutes. Government-owned schools are performing better now. Even those aspirants who come from the low- or middle-income groups should be able to get coaching if they want to join the civil services. Similar is the case in health services, we are chalking out a plan to ensure better quality of health services.
What about the deteriorating law and order situation?
Normally when metro cities take shape, criminals also increase. But we will increase the headcount of our (security) force. We have recruited 26,000 for the police force and 5,000 more would be recruited soon. We have created a separate force to tackle law and order. We don’t have issues such as Naxal violence or dacoity. New metros have new issues. For example, we are introducing 1,000 quick response vehicles. Several efforts have been taken to maintain law and order. By and large, Madhya Pradesh is better than any other Indian state.
You have plans to organise a mega religious event, Simhastha. How would it be unique?
We want to make it a kumbh, or congregation, of thinkers. Renowned thinkers, religious leaders, seers and saints would be invited in Ujjain during Simhastha to discuss contemporary issues such as environment protection, religion and science, religion for human welfare and value-based life. Ideas from the event would be conveyed to the world so that peace can be maintained.
How are you dealing with the Vyapam scandal?
Nothing is in our hands, it is being monitoring by the high court. Law enforcement agencies are working under a special investigation team constituted by the high court. I have full faith in the judiciary. Whatever would be decided would be on the basis of evidence. But I will firmly say that I feel proud I brought this issue to the fore, exposed it and took immediate action.
You are a chief minister and a farmer. Are you, as a farmer, satisfied with the government and its policies?
Not just me, but the entire farming community in the state is satisfied. And I have sufficient data to corroborate this; it is reflected in figures and data. When we took over the government, the state had only 750,000 hectares of cultivable area under irrigation. Now it has gone up to 3.6 million hectares, a record in itself. We have offered zero per cent loans to farmers, another first in the country. And, our seed replacement rate has gone up to 30 per cent, another achievement in agriculture reforms. In crude terms, if you want to see growth in rural economy, you should compare the number of vehicles, say tractors, available a decade ago and now. There is a phenomenal growth in all indicators. We have done our best in agriculture reforms and for the betterment of farmers. So, satisfaction among farmers is visible and evident.
Q You have delivered but has the delivery system also improved?
Let me put it this way. A few years back, when farmers used to haul their yields to the mandis, none was there to attend to them. They were ignored or faced harassment and insults; be it on payment or on accommodating their commodities at the mandis. In contrast, farmers are now invited to the mandis through short message service (SMS) on their designated mobile phones. The mandis make their payments instantly through electronic fund transfer, with full transparency. We have not only simplified the process but have also improved the system for the betterment of our farmers. Had these things not been there, farmers might have been pelting stones at us instead of giving the mandate for a third time.
You have claimed achieving almost 25 per cent record growth in agriculture and allied activities. What next?
Natural calamities have affected farmers and these are beyond our control. However, we have not given up. We are in the process of giving the final shape to a new home-made crop insurance scheme to mitigate losses in case of natural disasters, price crash or low productivity. The main idea is to ensure a minimum income during a crisis. It is at a conceptual stage and is in my mind. Insurance experts from across the country are readying a blueprint. I don’t know how successful I would be. I am pained when I see farmers suffering. Secondly, I have now altered the 2018 irrigation target. We would be covering 5 million hectares instead of the targeted 4 million hectares. Irrigation forms the base for agriculture, and agriculture is a quick means of creating jobs. So my prime task is to carry water to un-irrigated fields by whatever means required. Irrigation is a top priority for a state like Madhya Pradesh. If we can irrigate more land, we will be able to create more jobs, improve the purchasing power of the rural population. Once this purchasing power is increased, they will spend more and, eventually, it would create more jobs. It is a kind of economic cycle and my task is to ensure that this cycle is complete.
But do you think only availability of water can serve the purpose?
We want to do a lot more. Like, we have to experiment, change the crop pattern in the state. Our farmers need to adopt traditional and alternative crops. How long can our farmers continue with the two-crop pattern. We have to motivate and encourage them to adopt horticulture and floriculture, too, even other allied activities. Such a move would not only help farmers but would also attract the food processing industry. We are in the process of continuously creating infrastructure. For example, we recently set up a composite logistics hub near Hoshangabad on a public-private partnership basis. It would create opportunities and a linkage between the food processing industry and farmers.
Despite all these efforts, employment is yet a big challenge. Isn’t it?
If you were present at a recent Yuva Panchayat at my residence, you would have seen the various products young entrepreneurs had showcased. Our youth are more enterprising now, they are creating jobs for others. I felt uplifted on seeing their efforts. They were offered loans under two schemes — the Yuva Udaymi Yojana and Mukhyamantri Swarojgar Yojana — we launched a few years ago. All youth might not be getting loans under these schemes. But those who have have became successful and have generated jobs not only for themselves but for others too. In the endeavor to create jobs, our focus would remain on micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in each village, so that our economy remain vibrant. These young entrepreneurs have created 50,000 jobs through government-sponsored schemes. Now we are inviting self-help groups to do the same. Some of these groups are performing excellently.
Does it mean large-scale industries are now not a priority?
No. During the last few years, three textile manufacturing units came up in the towns of Budni and Ashta and have created nearly 15000 jobs. An equal number of jobs are expected from the information technology projects coming up at various locations. All job-providing industries are our priority area, but the focus would remain on micro, cottage and small-scale industries.
What do you see as a fresh challenge?
Growing urbanisation is a big challenge now. As money is flowing towards villages and the purchasing power of rural people is growing, urbanisation would increase. I am mulling over creating smart townships, say between Indore and Bhopal. The concept of smart cities does not necessarily mean one has to follow a prescribed formula. What I am thinking and planning is to create towns for those rural people who want at least one residential unit in urban areas. These townships can come up anywhere across the state, where we can ensure minimum basic facilities besides those defined under smart city concept.
What about villages?
We will have to make ideal villages by improving roads and promoting industries there. Our social sector programmes are largely focused on villages, be it save the girl child, save water, sanitation drive, health or education programmes.
But health and education services also should be spruced up...
Both are priority areas of my government. We have done a lot so far. However, I would lay emphasis more on ensuring quality education to the rural and urban poor, by creating model schools and other such institutes. Government-owned schools are performing better now. Even those aspirants who come from the low- or middle-income groups should be able to get coaching if they want to join the civil services. Similar is the case in health services, we are chalking out a plan to ensure better quality of health services.
What about the deteriorating law and order situation?
Normally when metro cities take shape, criminals also increase. But we will increase the headcount of our (security) force. We have recruited 26,000 for the police force and 5,000 more would be recruited soon. We have created a separate force to tackle law and order. We don’t have issues such as Naxal violence or dacoity. New metros have new issues. For example, we are introducing 1,000 quick response vehicles. Several efforts have been taken to maintain law and order. By and large, Madhya Pradesh is better than any other Indian state.
You have plans to organise a mega religious event, Simhastha. How would it be unique?
We want to make it a kumbh, or congregation, of thinkers. Renowned thinkers, religious leaders, seers and saints would be invited in Ujjain during Simhastha to discuss contemporary issues such as environment protection, religion and science, religion for human welfare and value-based life. Ideas from the event would be conveyed to the world so that peace can be maintained.
How are you dealing with the Vyapam scandal?
Nothing is in our hands, it is being monitoring by the high court. Law enforcement agencies are working under a special investigation team constituted by the high court. I have full faith in the judiciary. Whatever would be decided would be on the basis of evidence. But I will firmly say that I feel proud I brought this issue to the fore, exposed it and took immediate action.