MP Budget session begins, Guv highlights govt's achievements

Bhopal, Feb 23: The Budget session of Madhya Pradesh Assembly commenced on Tuesday with Governor Ram Naresh Yadav highlighting the state government's achievements on electoral, social and economic fronts.

Yadav did not read the entire text of his customary address that ran into 47 pages. The 87-year-old Governor just read first and last para of his address and left from the House as he was unable to stand for long.

He said the state government has peacefully conducted local bodies elections in the state in 2015, which has further strengthen the democracy.

Yadav said, "The government is working with full commitment to implement 'Jansankalp-2013' and 'Vision 2018' and I am confident that it will not leave any scope in that direction."

'Jansankalp-2013' and 'Vision 2018' are the road-maps of the BJP government in the state. Referring to social sector, the Governor said the 125th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar and birth centenary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya who had coined the concept of 'antyodaya' (last man of the society) are being observed in the state as 'Garib Kaylan Varsh'.

Besides launching a campaign to implement existing schemes for the welfare of poor in urban and rural areas, the government is also implementing schemes for the betterment of SC/ST and will also launch new programmes for them, he added.

Referring to the financial condition of the state, Yadav said because of better fiscal management, the state has remained a revenue surplus state for the past 11 years. According to him, MP's GDP was Rs 1.02 lakh crore in 2003-04 while in 2014-15, it has enhanced approximately four times to Rs 5.08 lakh crore.

In the last fiscal, the state's GDP growth rate was 10.19 per cent which is maximum in the country, Yadav said. In 2003-04, 22.44 per cent of the state's total revenue receipts were paid as interest while in 2014-15, it was reduced to 7.98 per cent, which is an important achievement, the Governor added.

Later Speaker Sitasharan Sharma adjourned the Assembly for the day after taking up the listed business of the House. Prior to the Governor's address, BJP MLA from Maihar constituency Narayan Tripathi was administered oath as member of the House.

PTI