Chouhan joins stand-up against poverty

Bhopal, Oct 18 (UNI) The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh is committed to eradicating poverty and the civil society organisations should unitedly fight hunger and poverty, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said today.

''If necessary, the government would initiate new schemes to achieve its goal'', he told reporters here.

The people the State set a Guinness record with 3.3 million people joining the unique ''Standup against poverty'' on Monday, he said.

''I reaffirm the state government's commitment to fight hunger and poverty and meet the UN Millenium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015'', Mr Chouhan said in a pledge at a public function at Indore's Nehru Stadium on Monday.

The stand-up event is aimed at raising mass awareness about the promise by 189 nations to eradicate hunger, poverty and diseases.

Meanwhile, Mr Chouhan denied as 'baseless' reports regarding consumption of ''grass'' by impoverished Saharia tribals saying rural employment scheme had been launched in such areas. He,however, admitted development had not percolated down to many areas resulting in poverty and hunger.

The remarkable turn out of the people of Madhya Pradesh in stand-up campaign reflects their enormous interest and support for the MDGs'', MGD Director Salil Shetty told reporters.

UNI AG-SP SI DB1325