Chauhan declares his demands for the 12th Plan

After a marathon meeting of bureaucrats at home, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan raised demands and put a progress report of the state’s Plan on a Planning Commission forum which sought a consensus among chief ministers on the key parameters to be addressed in the approach paper to the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-2017).

Chauhan raised certain issues of pertaining to the Plan panel's developmental strategies in general and review of Bundelkhand package and fund allocation for tribal-dominated areas. He suggested that Plan allocation should be need and demand based, rather than policy based.

Reportedly, the CM also advised on some issues like the Centre should change allocation of some schemes in pattern of 90:10 ratio instead of 60:40 or 80:20 ratio.

“He in fact should have given inputs as a chief minister with a rich experience of ten years, he put suggestions instead, a consultative committee meeting is not the right forum for suggestions and putting report card or criticism of the centre,” a source close to the meeting informed Business Standard.

“The chief minister has asked the plan panel to allocate more funds for social sector by making strategies for social and financial inclusion for overall development of the state," another source said.

Chauhan reportedly demanded more funds from central government to initiate basic infrastructure for irrigation, agriculture, roads, health and education.

Harping on his coal demand, which was his last general elections' prime agenda, Chauhan said his state’s coals should be dispatched to other states only if stock is surplus. Further, he demanded a review of parameters on Mahatma Gandhi rojgar guarantee scheme and prime minister rural road scheme.

States like Madhya Pradesh urgently require investment in irrigation and Chauhan laid his emphasis on making the 12th plan as ‘Water Plan’ so that agriculture can be a profitable business.

According to sources Chauhan pin-pointed that Madhya Pradesh is not only a tribal-dominated state but also has a large population living below poverty line.

As a result, social sector needs immediate attention and proper development through public-private partnership basis. He also urged the plan panel to rework its strategies on social sector where Madhya Pradesh has taken a lead in launching various social schemes, particularly for girl children.