Ramnagar, Mandla, Apr 24 (UNI) The heat is on.
Set against impending Assembly elections in the year-end, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at the Dumna Airport on a day-long visit to Madhya Pradesh.
President Ram Nath Kovind, a UNI report from Sagar stated, would be in the state on Saturday to take part in the 27th Convocation ceremony of the Dr Harisingh Gour University.
The premier addressed a programme at Ramnagar in Mandla on the occasion of the 'National Panchayati Raj Day.' Through live broadcast, Mr Modi spoke to 2.44 lakh village panchayats.
The PM also inaugurated a three-day 'Adi Mahotsav'.
Observing that the budget was not a constraint on the road to transformation of villages, Mr Modi said that the real issue was its utilisation in a transparent manner.
Addressing a public meeting at tribal-dominated Mandla district's Ramnagar village panchayat, the Prime Minister said,'Money is not a problem. For instance, school, building and teachers are available but still children absent from classes and remain uneducated. It is our responsibility as people's representatives to ensure that every child attends school.'
Mr Modi, earlier, launched the 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan' and unveiled developmental works.
'Likewise, many advancements have been made in the field of health. Polio drops administered at the right time could ensure that no child is affected by the ailment. These things do not require budget,' he noted.
Dhan
Mr Modi asserted that 'Jan Dhan, Van Dhan and Govardhan' could change the face of villages.
'Jan Dhan can bring every family to mainstream economy. Proper utilisation of Van Dhan can help boost income. Govardhan or bovine resources, cattle dung, can help generate gas, energy and fertilisers.'
Describing 'Panchayati Raj' as an opportunity to realise the dream for 'gram swaraj' of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, Mr Modi assured 2.40 lakh panchayats citizens and their representatives – of whom one third were women – that the Centre would work shoulder to shoulder with them for the empowerment of villages and elimination of their diffuiculties.
'Every representative wants to do certain things for his village in his tenure so that he could share them with posterity. I want to strengthen that desire within you to do something for your village and to spend every moment in transforming your village,' the premier said.
Pointing out that tribal Gond kings were remembered for their welfare works, Mr Modi said that villagers reposed their trust on their representatives for a limited period in democracy.
'Small things can bring about a sea-change in villages. Does our farmer know that soil health is necessary to ensure productivity in long time? Spraying of fertilisers in large quantities can ruin soil health. Villagers can decide to reduce the quantity of fertilisers and play an important role in soil conservation, besides saving money,' Mr Modi added.
The Centre, he pointed out, had decided to consider bamboo as grass which would allow peasants to cultivate it on additional land, and augment their income.
' Bamboo used to be regarded as a tree. Consequently, farmers could not cut it or sell it. On the other hand, the nation used to import bamboos worth Rs 12,000-15000 crore,' Mr Modi added.
Gandhi's dreams
Exhorting village panchayat representatives to pledge to building the villages of Gandhi's dreams, he said technology could be used to ensure accountability for proper utilisation of every penny allocated for implementation of various schemes. Mr Modi urged them to realise the clarion call of 'Jai kisan, Jai jawan' and 'Jai vigyan.'
Special museums, Mr Modi announced, would be set up in every state in the memory of freedom fighters.
'Countless contributed in the struggle for freedom but its accounts has remained limited to only a few people and families. Rani Durgavati, Birsa Munda and others made sacrifices to protect their culture besides the struggle for independence,' he pointed out.
The Centre, Mr Modi said, has decided to open a special museum in each state to make people aware of the contribution of tribal people. A similar museum, he added, would soon be established in Madhya Pradesh.
Mr Modi stressed the need for a social movement against rising crimes against women and girls in the country. Families, he said, should make boys responsible and inculcate a feeling of respect for women in them.
'Usually, families keep an eye on their daughters. However, they should also monitor activities of their sons and stop them when they go astray. This would help nip demonic tendencies in the bud.'
Pointing out that an Ordinance had been promulgated to mete out capital punishment to child rapists, Mr Modi said the Centre listened to the hearts of the people.
State Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and former Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste were among those present on the occasion.
A UNI report from Bhopal stated that Leader of the Opposition Ajay Singh accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of weakening the Vidhan Sabha and infringing on the rights of people's representatives.
'The Parliamentary Affairs Department issued a circular on March 21, 2018, in which it has been directed to refrain from using certain terminology while drafting replies. The circular contains list of 34 phrases that should be avoided as these are considered as assurances,' the Congress leader told media.
'The circular points out that proper structuring of replies and in-depth analysis of content of questions could reduce the number of assurances made by the regime in the House. Ministers need to be alert while making assurances and ensured that these are followed,' he said.
Mr Singh said that the circular hurts the fundamental sentiment of the House. Earlier, he added, the dispensation had brought in certain provisions that curtailed the rights of legislators to move a no-confidence motion and submit but retreated when there was objection from the Opposition and media.
The Prime Minister returned to Jabalpur at 1400 hrs. He met collectors of eight districts – considered the state's backward-at the airport premises before emplaning for the Capital.
UNI Team-PS RP2041