Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh is set to undertake a large-scale public programme on September 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, with 58 lakh ‘lamps of blessings’ to be lit across the state, including at Ujjain’s Mahakal Mahalok.
The initiative has been announced at the direction of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav as a mark of gratitude for what he described as Prime Minister Modi’s 25-year journey of public service.
The programme will also launch the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ (Service Pledge Campaign), which will run from September 17 to October 17 across Madhya Pradesh.
According to Chief Minister Yadav, the campaign is intended not merely as a commemorative exercise but as an effort to promote service as a social and political value and encourage people to take a pledge towards public service.
58 Lakh Lamps to Illuminate Madhya Pradesh
The central feature of the September 17 programme will be the lighting of 58 lakh lamps across Madhya Pradesh.
The lamps will symbolise the people’s blessings, respect and gratitude for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long public-service journey.
A special event will also be organised at Ujjain’s Mahakal Mahalok, adding a prominent religious and cultural dimension to the statewide programme.
CM Mohan Yadav said the initiative is intended to recognise a journey that, according to him, has been marked by a focus on serving people and bringing disadvantaged sections into the mainstream of development.
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‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ to Continue Till October 17
The lamp-lighting event on September 17 will mark the beginning of the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.
The campaign will continue until October 17, with the objective of reinforcing the idea of service in public life.
Chief Minister Yadav said Prime Minister Modi’s public career should be viewed through the lens of service rather than simply political office. The campaign, accordingly, seeks to turn the occasion into a broader social pledge centred on service.
25 Years Since Narendra Modi Became Gujarat Chief Minister
CM Yadav highlighted October 7, 2001, as a significant date in Prime Minister Modi’s political journey.
It was on this day that Narendra Modi assumed office as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, marking the beginning of the 25-year period of public service that the Madhya Pradesh government is seeking to commemorate.
According to Yadav, Modi’s journey from Chief Minister of Gujarat to Prime Minister of India represents a sustained period in public life.
He said Modi has treated public life not simply as a route to acquiring political power or position, but as a medium through which public service can be delivered.
The proposed lighting of 58 lakh lamps in Madhya Pradesh will therefore serve as a symbolic expression of respect and gratitude for this journey.
Focus on Poor, Farmers, Youth and Women
While announcing the campaign, CM Yadav highlighted what he described as key aspects of the governance model associated with Prime Minister Modi.
He said the welfare of the poor has been placed at the centre of governance, with crores of people benefiting from initiatives related to free foodgrains, housing, sanitation, social security and healthcare.
Yadav also referred to Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, saying that an emphasis on results and momentum in areas such as agriculture, industry, investment and governance became characteristic of his working style.
According to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, the broader development approach has sought to bring poor people, farmers, youth, women and marginalised sections into the mainstream of development.
CM Yadav Highlights Economic and Security Gains
Yadav also highlighted India’s economic and security position under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.
He stated that India has become the world’s fourth-largest economy, while also asserting that the country has strengthened its position globally.
The Chief Minister pointed to developments in both internal and external security, including actions against terrorism and Naxalism.
He also highlighted a range of initiatives associated with the Modi government, including Startup India, Skill Development, Make in India, Digital India, Khelo India and Fit India.
According to Yadav, these initiatives reflect an approach that combines economic opportunity, skills, entrepreneurship, manufacturing, technology, sports and fitness.
From Swachh Bharat to Ayushman Bharat
The Chief Minister also listed several major central government schemes and initiatives while outlining what he described as the transformation in governance over the past 25 years.
He said the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan encouraged public participation in sanitation and cleanliness.
He also highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, saying it accelerated efforts towards providing permanent houses to poor families.
The Jal Jeevan Mission, aimed at providing tap water to households, was also mentioned as an important initiative.
Yadav further referred to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Ayushman Bharat and the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
Women’s Empowerment Through Government Initiatives
Women’s empowerment also featured prominently in the Chief Minister’s remarks.
He referred to initiatives including Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, Lakhpati Didi and the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, saying these initiatives have placed continued emphasis on women’s participation, empowerment and self-reliance.
The Chief Minister said the government’s focus has been on increasing the role of women in development while strengthening their economic and social position.
MP Government Highlights ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’
Turning to Madhya Pradesh’s own development agenda, Yadav said his government is committed to implementing Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, aur Sabka Prayas’.
He highlighted employment and government recruitment as one of the state’s priorities.
According to the Chief Minister, more than 85,000 youths have been appointed to government services in Madhya Pradesh.
He added that the state has set a target of providing public-sector employment opportunities to more than one lakh youths every year in the near future.
Ladli Behna Scheme and Women’s Economic Confidence
Yadav also highlighted the state’s Ladli Behna Yojana, describing it as an important initiative for improving women’s economic confidence.
According to him, the scheme has contributed to strengthening women’s financial self-confidence and decision-making position within their families.
The Chief Minister presented the scheme as part of the state’s broader approach towards women’s empowerment and self-reliance.
Farmer Welfare and Compensation for Land Acquisition
The Chief Minister also outlined measures taken for farmers under the state’s ‘Farmers’ Welfare Year’ initiatives.
One of the decisions highlighted by him concerns compensation for agricultural land acquired in rural areas.
According to Yadav, the state has decided to provide farmers with compensation equivalent to four times the market rate for acquisition of agricultural land in rural areas.
At the same time, he said that work is continuing to increase Madhya Pradesh’s irrigation capacity, with irrigation infrastructure being treated as a key component of agricultural development.
₹34 Lakh Crore Investment Proposals Received
Yadav also highlighted the state’s efforts to attract investment.
According to the Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the third-largest recipient of investment in the country within a single year.
He said the state has received investment proposals amounting to approximately ₹34 lakh crore so far.
Of this, projects worth around ₹15 lakh crore have already moved to implementation on the ground, according to the figures shared by the Chief Minister.
The government has positioned investment as a major component of its strategy for economic growth, industrial development and employment generation.
Ken-Betwa and Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Projects
Irrigation and water infrastructure also featured prominently in Yadav’s account of the state’s development initiatives.
He described the groundbreaking ceremony for the long-pending Ken-Betwa Link Project as a significant milestone.
He also highlighted the tripartite agreement between Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and the Central Government for the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project.
Both projects have been presented as important interventions for strengthening water availability and irrigation in the state.
According to Yadav, expanding irrigation capacity remains an important part of the government’s efforts to support farmers and agricultural growth.
Expansion of Airport Infrastructure
The Chief Minister also pointed to improvements in Madhya Pradesh’s aviation infrastructure.
He referred to the inauguration of airports in Rewa, Datia and Satna, describing the expansion of airport infrastructure as another area of development in the state.
The developments are part of the government’s wider emphasis on improving connectivity and creating infrastructure that can support investment and economic activity.
A Month of Service Pledge
With the lighting of 58 lakh lamps on September 17, Madhya Pradesh will formally launch the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, which will continue for one month until October 17.
The campaign is being framed by the state government as a tribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25-year public service journey, beginning with his assumption of office as Gujarat Chief Minister in October 2001.
At the same time, CM Mohan Yadav has linked the campaign to the Madhya Pradesh government’s own development priorities, including women’s empowerment, youth employment, farmer welfare, irrigation, investment and infrastructure.
The initiative will thus combine a statewide commemorative programme with a broader pledge centred on the idea of seva, or service, in public and social life.
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