BJP Govt's development initiative hailed

Bhopal, Feb 21 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Sudha Jain today hailed in the Vidhan Sabha the Shivraj Singh Chouhan Government's initiative for development of Madhya Pradesh to take it to the rank of frontline states.

Initiating the debate on the motion of thanks on Governor Balram Jakhar's address to the Assembly on the opening day of the budget session on February 19, Ms Sudha Jain defended the government initiative to reduce infant and maternal mortality in the state by promoting institutional delivery.

''Multi-pronged action had been taken to ensure balanced rural development, water conservation, ensuring employment to the needy people in rural areas through distribution of job cards, empowerment of women and eliminating malnutrition by covering maximum number of women and children through Aanganwadis'', Ms Jain said.

The BJP member said the BJP government had taken a decisive step to reduce the burden of farmers by reducing the interest rate on cooperative loans to 7 percent from 16.5 percent.

''The government held consultations with stakeholders before taking vital decisions on the welfare of tribals, farmers and employees'', she said.

Ms Jain said the state's BJP government was given award at the India Today conclave for its outstanding performance in road construction, water conservation and rural development. Round the clock arrangements had been made in 700 hospitals for institutional delivery and vacancies of nurses were being filled up on priority.

The state also initiated steps to maintain gender balance by discouraging terminating female foetus. About ten thousand new Aanganwadi centres had been opened to solve malnutrition to a great extent, Ms Jain added.

UNI