By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal, April 24: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that suitable spaces will be earmarked for commercial activities of leather crafts-persons in urban bodies. Better training will be imparted to them. Apart from training expenses, allowance will also be provided to trainee leather crafts-persons. Social security scheme will be chalked out under which they will be registered and provided identity cards, scholarships will be given to their children and assistance for maternity, treatment and marriage. Assistance will also be provided in case of death of family head.
Chouhan was addressing Charm Shipli (Leather crafts-persons) Panchayat at his residence here on Wednesday. About 3 thousand leather crafts-persons from all over the state were present on the occasion.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Charm Shipli Panchayat at his residence on Wednesday
Chouhan said that a grand Sant Ravidas Memorial will be constructed at Ujjain. The State Government will help market products manufactured by leather crafts-persons. Depots will be set up at Indore and Gwalior to provide raw material to them. Places will be earmarked for leather crafts-persons in small shopping centres to be established in rural areas. Places in such complexes will be allotted to leather crafts-persons where such complexes are available. Crafts-persons will be imparted training as per current demand in eminent skill development institutions including Footwear Development Institute, Chhindwara, CEDMAP, Central Leather Research Centre, Chennai and MAPCOST.
The Chief Minister said that laptops will be given scheduled castes students of medical and engineering courses. Besides, upto Rs. 15 lakh annual scholarship will be provided for pursuing education abroad. The State Government will give guarantee on up to Rs. 25 lakh bank loan and also provide 5 per cent interest subsidy for 5 years under Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarozgar Yojana. Youths of leather crafts-persons’ families having engineering degree will be registered as A category contractors. Mangal Bhawans will be constructed in every development block. Loan up to Rs.10,000 on zero per cent interest rate will be provided to leather crafts-persons for self-employment on which the State Government will provide 50 percent subsidy. Besides, a separate scheme will also be chalked out to provide up to Rs.5 lakh capital.
As many as 20 clusters of leather products will be established in the state. Under social security scheme, registration of all leather crafts-persons will be made and identity cards will be issued to them. For education of their children, labour scholarship will also be given to them side by side with scheduled caste scholarship. On delivery in family of craftsperson, wife will be given one and a half months’ wages and husband 15 days’ wages apart form Rs.000 for nutritious diet. Family of a craftsperson will be given assistance for treatment. Assistance of Rs.75,000 will be given if head of family dies in accident and Rs.20,000 for natural death. Assistance of Rs.15,000 will be given for daughter’s marriage. Rent will be reimbursed if five students rent an accommodation on Chhatragrih Yojana.
The Chief Minister said that leather crafts-persons should lead a better life and contribute to progress of country and state through their skill. He said that BPL and Antyodaya families will be provided wheat at the rate of Re. 1 per kg and rice at Rs.2 per kg from June 1. Patta of land on which poor families are residing will be given to them. He said that development is meaningless unless its benefit reach the poor.
Cottage and Village Industries Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya said that glimpse of real democracy are seen in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh has taken initiative to chalk out schemes on the basis of suggestions emerging in public dialogue. He said that Madhya Pradesh is pioneer in development under the leadership of Chief Minister Chouhan. The state leads in the country in agriculture. He said that inflation has increased due to policies of the Union Government.
Madhya Pradesh Khadi Gramodyog Board Chairman Satyanarayan Sattan said that the Chief Minister has ensured development of all sections. Former Union Minister Satyanarayan Jatia said that all problems are being redressed gradually. He said that the Chief Minister does this work with full capacity since he is sensitive and understand spoor people’s problems.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister released a booklet containing information about village industry schemes. The Chief Minister felicitated Satyanarain Jatia, Satyanrayan Sattan, Narayan Kesri, Indresh Gajbhiye and Lal Singh Arya for their long-standing social services.
At the panchayat, representatives of leather craftsperson community put up their suggestions. Khilam Singh of Raisen suggested skill development of crafts-persons. Jaswant Rai of Bhopal said that free stalls should be allotted to leather crafts-persons at exhibitions held by Handicraft Development Corporation and Gramodyog Deparment. Shyam Pendharkar suggested to chalk out Charmkar Gumti Yojana and provide shoe polishing machines to leather crafts-persons. Ms Sandhya said that government should cooperate with the crafts-persons to provide basic amenities such as allotment of land etc. to set up new work after training.
Radhecharan Ahirwar of Vidisha said that products of leather crafts-persons should be purchased by government. Suresh Gaikwad of Betul suggested to set up Leather-craft Development Corporation. Bhagwati Shinde of Betul, Ramesh of Burhanpur, Hari Singh Goyal of Kannaud, Rakesh of Ratlam and Dhanraj of Narsinghpur also put forth their suggestions.
Minister of State for Scheduled Castes Welfare Harishankar Khatik, Minister of State for Urban Administration Manohar Untwal, Madhya Pradesh Handicraft and Handloom Development Corporation Chairman Madhav Singh Dangi, Chief Secretary R. Parasuram, Principal Secretary Gramodyog Mrs. Kanchan Jain, Managing Director of Khadi & Village Industry Board Mrs. Shikha Dube Mrs. Veera Rana, Commissioner Sericulture S.D. Pateriya and large number of leather crafts-persons were present on the occasion. ([email protected])