Other States - Madhya Pradesh   

Priorities shift with changing Chief Ministers

Staff Correspondent

M.P. has seen three CMs in less than three years, each following a different agenda Madhya Pradesh has seen three Chief Ministers in less than three years, each following a different agenda

BHOPAL: Two-and-a-half years ago the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in Madhya Pradesh with more than two-thirds majority but during this short period, the State has seen three Chief Ministers -- each following a different agenda and policy thrust.

The incumbent Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, has focused on development of infrastructure like road and power sector, but particularly on the Jalabhishek Abhiyan (water conservation campaign). It is meant to save and conserve water with maximum participation of the people.

In a short time -- between April 2 and 30 -- more than 4.30 lakh works were started and 1.69 lakh tanks were constructed with people's participation valued at Rs. 28 crores.

The scheme is aimed at collecting rain water in the fields by constructing tanks so that enough water could be collected for irrigation and "nistar" purposes in the villages.

After leading the BJP to victory and becoming Chief Minister in December 2003, Uma Bharti had launched the "Panch-J" (five Js) campaign with much fanfare. The five Js stand for jal, jungle, jameen, jan and janwar (water, forest, land, human resource and cattle).

Though she proclaimed that Panch-J would form the basis of her policy thrust, all that was done in this direction was that some high-profile advisors to the Chief Minister, as well as chairmen and members of Panch-J committees were appointed and given official status and perks of office.

These advisors and members of the Panch-J committees were a cause of serious heartburn among a section of the State Cabinet as well as the top echelon of the bureaucracy as they were seen as extra-constitutional centres of power.

It was being pointed out by the administrators that the Panch-J committees were blocking the smooth functioning of various Government departments that were supposed to implement the Government's programmes and policies through a system of rules and checks and balances.

After Ms. Bharti had to suddenly vacate office due to the Hubli riot case in August 2004, her successor Babulal Gaur decided to put the Panch-J campaign on the backburner and instead launched the Gokul Gram Yojna.

Under the Yojana, five villages were initially to be selected in each district by the District Collector in consultation with the Minister-in-charge of the district concerned, Member of Parliament and the MLAs. Starting with 1150 Gokul Grams, the State was to have over 4000 such grams in a year's time.

The idea was that these villages would eventually become a model and source of inspiration for development of other villages. Mr. Gaur used to point out that the aim was to go for the integrated development of villages.

However, the scheme met with resistance both from a section of those within the Gaur Cabinet as well as the ruling BJP cadres. The Gokul Gram scheme came under attack on the ground that it was discriminatory and went against the concept of a welfare State.

The main criticism was that if the target was to cover 4000 villages under this ambitious project in a year's time, how long it would take to provide basic facilities in all the 51000 villages in the State.

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Priorities shift with changing Chief Ministers

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