Ahead of MP polls, Shivraj Singh Chouhan promises 10 'social revolutions'

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Chouhan said his government will take several revolutionary steps to make life of people belonging to every section better

With the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election scheduled to be held later this year, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that he will implement 10 "social revolutions" in the state.

"The social revolutions are land and housing, women empowerment, farmers' welfare, the welfare of weaker sections, skill development and employment, welfare of poor, education, and health for all, cultural rise, and good governance," Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

"I am taking a resolution to double the per capita income of the state, to increase the total agricultural production to 100 million metric tonnes, irrigation potential to reach 6,500,000 hectares, increasing energy capacity to more than 38,000 MW and network of new roads to 100,000 km," he said.

He also stated that nursing colleges will be established in all government medical colleges of the state.

Chouhan's new schemes ahead of MP polls

Addressing a state-level Independence Day programme at the Lal Parade ground in Bhopal, Chouhan announced that the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the Centre's flagship health insurance scheme that provides free treatment worth Rs 5 lakh each year, will now be available to those who are not required to pay tax.

"The benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme will be extended. Ayushman cards will also be provided to those who do not come under the income tax bracket," he said. The health insurance scheme is currently available only for BPL families.

In addition, Chouhan announced the Mukhyamantri Jan Awas Yojana for the poor who are not covered under any other government housing schemes.

"Under the Mukhyamantri Jan Awas Yojana, houses will be provided to every poor family, whose names have not been included in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana [centrally-sponsored scheme] and Awas Plus app. I take a pledge today that by 2023, our government will take the state's economy to a height of Rs 45 lakh crore," he said.

The chief minister further expressed his government's commitment to provide houses to all the people in the state.

"We have resolved that no poor person should be without a roof in the state. We have constructed 4,400,000 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Besides, 2,200,000 more houses are to be constructed under Awas plus," the chief minister said.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan's 'bimaru' jibe at Congress

Taking a dig at the Congress, Chouhan noted that there was a period when the state was in the 'bimaru' (sickly) category.

"There was a lack of amenities like roads, water and electricity. There is a huge difference between the situation at that time and now," he said.

In 2003, the terror of dacoits ruled north Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan said, adding the BJP government decided and eliminated them within six months

"Earlier [under Congress government], Maoists cut the throat of a minister, but we have eliminated them, in addition to demolishing the network SIMI [Students' Islamic Movement of India] in the state," he said.