Madhya Pradesh ministers will be intensively touring all districts of the poll-bound state for a fortnight starting February 5, taking the development works of the BJP government to the people. The yatra will conclude on February 20.
Under the 'Vikas Yatra' to be launched on the occasion of Sant Ravidas Jayanti (birth anniversary), the district in-charge ministers will dedicate development works that have been completed to the public, lay foundation stones for new development works, and extend benefits of various government schemes to eligible people. Beneficiary conventions will be held at village or panchayat levels where the ministers will interact with people who have received benefits of the schemes.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asked the ministers to undertake intensive tours on the first two days of the 'yatra' and ensure that the benefits of the development activities and welfare schemes reach the people without hassles, within the scheduled time.
The ministers are expected to submit a report to the chief minister after seeking feedback from people on the implementation of development works and welfare schemes. They are also expected to inspect construction works of educational institutions, hostels, anganwadis, power and drinking water projects and other infrastructure work.
Though the state government is projecting the 'Vikas Yatra' as a inspection-cum-feedback taking activity regarding development works, political watchers feel that the campaign is a 'reaching out to voters' exercise by the ruling party, ahead of the assembly polls slated in another 10 months. During the campaign, the ministers will try to highlight the works being done by the BJP governments at state and the Centre for the welfare of people with an eye on votes, political watchers feel.
MP Congress chief and ex-chief minister Kamal Nath has described the yatra as a BJP poll campaign on the public exchequer. “After pushing Madhya Pradesh backwards on all indicators of development; lodging it in a quagmire of debts, making it number one in unemployment and price rise, the Shivraj government is trying to undertake a party poll campaign using government money in the name of 'Vikas Yatra'. The people of MP know the truth of this 'vikas' (development). This is not the time for 'vikas yatra', but farewell rally of the BJP,” Nath tweeted.
Meanwhile, CM Chouhan also held a meeting of all ministers, divisional commissioners and district collectors (who attended virtually) to discuss the details of the proposed campaign.
He said it should be ensured that the tours of the ministers should be effective and they interact with the people to get feedback on the quality of the development works, timely completion (or otherwise) and satisfaction level of the people. They should also hold discussions with civil society organisations and prominent citizens from different sections during the yatra.
District administrations have been given instructions for necessary arrangements and coordination. The chief minister has asked the officials to ensure that the pending cases regarding development works and welfare schemes should be resolved on priority. Publicity of good works done by the districts and their emulation at other places should be encouraged.