By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: In recognition of the concrete and planned efforts made by the Bharatiya Janata Party ruled Madhya Pradesh Government towards attaining the UNO millennium goals, the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was presented a Letter of Commendation by the UN representative here today.
Also, the minister for PWD Kailash Vijayvargiya and the chairman of Indore Development Authority Madhu Verma were presented certificates for their noteworthy contribution and meaningful efforts towards massive public participation in the ‘Stand Up ‘ programme held in Indore in the month of October last. These certificates were awarded by the Asia chief of the United Nations Millennium Development Campaign Minar Pimpele.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister Chouhan declared that providing social security cover to the poor masses is the ultimate goal of the state government. He informed about the initiatives and efforts made by the State Government in Madhya Pradesh towards attaining the United Nations millennium targets such as universilisation of elementary education, women empowerment, environment conservation, bringing down child mortality rate, poverty alleviation and hunger elimination, health care of expectant mothers, prevention of diseases like malaria, AIDS etc.
He said that the government is committed to provide social security cover to the poor sections of the society. Separate workers board will be constituted for agricultural laborers apart from introducing schemes for motivating the children of workers towards education and their medical treatment, the chief minister added. Also, provision was being made to provide the facility of one and half month leave to women laborers during their pregnancy period.
Chouhan pointed out that decrease has been registered substantially in the cases of serious malnourishment in the state. He hoped that Madhya Pradesh would enhance its prestige achieving top place in these fields in the entire country.
It may be mentioned here that at the beginning of this millennium the United Nations had set eight primary goals with the consent of all member nations for development, which included- eradicating absolute poverty and hunger, universilisation of primary education, gender equality and women empowerment, decreasing infant mortality rate, better health for expectant mothers, prevention of malaria, AIDS and other diseases and environment protection among others. A time limit of 15 years has been set for achieving these goals.
Meanwhile,, the Minister for Public Works Department Kailash Vijayvargiya said that the efforts have been intensified towards achieving the millennium targets set by the United Nations. He termed the honour bestowed upon Madhya Pradesh by the UN as an outstanding achievement.
The Asia chief Minar Pimpele informed on the occasion that a “Speak Out” programme on the lines of “Stand Up” programme is being planned to be organized on October 17 to mark the World Poverty Day. He expressed the hope that Madhya Pradesh would again create a record in the world ensuring greater public participation in the proposed “Speak Out” programme.
Later, the Chief Minister Chouhan released a special poster relating to World Poverty Day. Kamlesh Pare conducted the programme. ([email protected])