MP to provide 50 per cent reservation in local bodies: Chouhan

Lucknow, Dec 23 (UNI) Following in the footsteps of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today announced that his government will provide 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions.

Reporting the achievements of his government to the BJP National Council, Mr Chouhan said his government not only provided the girls with the opportunities to empower themselves with education but also allocated funds of Rs 1,00,000 each as fixed deposits.

The state had made great strides in providing amenities like roads, energy, drinking water and other infrastructure.

The previous government in the state, he said, used to avail a loan of Rs 14,000 crore as against the spending of mere Rs 7,000 crore on development. ''We too have availed a similar amount for loans but the difference is that we are spending 17,000 crores on development and progress,'' he said.

The Chief Minister said the government had brought in a legislation to put a check on religious conversions. Anyone who wishes to convert will have to file an application with the district authorities and obtain prior permission confirming his decision was voluntary and without any allurement or threat.

The state government was offering subsidies to the pilgrims wishing to visit Manas Sarovar in China, Mr Chouhan said.

The BJP, he said, had done wonderfully well in the recently concluded by-elections to the Lok Sabha as well as Assembly seats in the state which was a strong indication that things were ''moving in the right direction''.

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