Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has stressed the need to strengthen panchayats to ensure planned rural development and effective implementation of public welfare programmes across the state. He directed officials to prepare a comprehensive development and management plan for urban and large gram panchayats, particularly those located near cities, to improve infrastructure and governance.
The Chief Minister made these remarks while reviewing the progress of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department at a meeting held in Bhopal. Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Prahlad Patel, Minister of State Radha Singh, Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal, and senior officials attended the review meeting.
Strengthening Panchayats for Better Rural Governance
During the review, CM Mohan Yadav emphasized that empowered panchayats are essential for ensuring systematic rural development and efficient implementation of government welfare schemes.
He instructed officials to prepare dedicated development plans for urban and larger gram panchayats so that roads and public infrastructure in villages located near urban centres can be developed in a planned and sustainable manner.
The Chief Minister also announced that the Jal Ganga Conservation Campaign will be expanded on a much larger scale next year.
Focus on Dairy Farming and Self-Help Groups
Highlighting the importance of increasing farmers’ income, CM Yadav said dairy farming should be promoted under the Mukhyamantri Vrindavan Gram Yojana.
He also called for encouraging cow-rearing, strengthening cow committees, and linking high-performing Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with small-scale industries and MSMEs to create additional livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
Madhya Pradesh Tops in Rural Road Development
Officials informed the Chief Minister that Madhya Pradesh has secured the top position in the country for quality control and maintenance of rural roads.
The state has also ranked first in completing the highest length of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
To improve monitoring, the government is using drone technology to assess the maintenance and condition of rural roads across the state.
Progress Under VBG Ram Ji Scheme
Under the VBG Ram Ji Scheme, nearly 1.24 lakh development works are currently underway across Madhya Pradesh.
The programme has generated daily employment for around 2.62 lakh workers, with wages amounting to ₹18.20 crore already disbursed.
Officials also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Madhya Pradesh’s water conservation efforts during his Mann Ki Baat programme, particularly appreciating the construction of 1,500 ponds in Sidhi and Amrit Sarovars in Narsinghpur.
Online Services Expanded Across Gram Panchayats
The review revealed significant progress in digital governance across rural Madhya Pradesh.
Key achievements include:
- Online public services launched in 10,554 Gram Panchayat buildings
- 53,813 building permits issued through online platforms
- ₹3.81 crore collected online through taxes and fees
- Solar Village pilot project underway in all 76 Gram Panchayats of Ujjain Janpad Panchayat
These initiatives are improving transparency and making public services more accessible in rural areas.
Progress Under PM Awas Yojana
The state has made significant progress in rural housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
From December 2023 till now:
- More than 16.20 lakh houses have been approved.
- The total project cost stands at ₹19,440 crore.
- Over 8.19 lakh houses have already been completed.
Under the PM Janman Awas Yojana, out of 1.89 lakh approved houses, nearly 1.48 lakh houses have been completed.
Five-Year Development Plans Prepared
Officials informed the Chief Minister that Vrindavan Gram has been selected in all 208 rural Assembly constituencies of the state.
Additionally, five-year development plans have been prepared for 135 villages across 33 districts, aiming to promote planned infrastructure development, improved governance, and sustainable rural growth.
CM Reviews Key Rural Development Schemes
During the meeting, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav reviewed the implementation and progress of several flagship programmes, including:
- Mukhyamantri Vrindavan Gram Yojana
- Rural Road Development Authority projects
- VBG Ram Ji Scheme
- State Rural Livelihood Mission
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)
- Jal Ganga Conservation Campaign
- Rural digital governance initiatives
The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure timely implementation of all schemes while strengthening grassroots governance through empowered panchayats, better infrastructure, and technology-driven rural development.
