German, Dutch diplomats meet MP CM

Bhopal, Apr 25: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has conducted discussions with Germany's Consul General Walter Stechel and his Dutch counterpart Hans Ramaker on prospects for strengthening cooperation and launching projects in this state.

The Mumbai-resident diplomats made a courtesy call at Mr Chouhan's residence yesterday and assured cooperation for Madhya Pradesh's all-round development, an official release said.

''Steps have been taken in the primary sectors to make this state a developed one. The government has constantly focussed on power generation, road-laying, water management, education, health, nutrition, agriculture development, forest conservation and environmental development besides paying attention to development of urban and rural areas,'' the Chief Minister claimed.

He referred to efforts for empowerment of women, education of girls, marriage of poor women, bringing down maternal and infant mortality and eradicating malnutrition.

Providing an account of his recent Kenya visit, Mr Chouhan said, ''at a UN Habitat meeting in Nairobi, a presentation was made on water conservation, environmental improvement and implementation of potable water schemes at four places in Madhya Pradesh with community participation.'' Mr S P S Parihar, Secretary to the Chief Minister, informed the dignitaries about initiatives being taken by the government for population control, industrial development, private sector investment, new mining projects, implementation of housing projects for the urban poor with people's cooperation and reservation of 50 per cent posts for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and local bodies, the release added.

UNI