States’ share in central taxes should be increased, this will strengthen the economy of the states: Chief Minister Dr. Yadav

Bhopal : Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that empowerment of the nation lies in empowerment of the states, therefore the share of the states in central taxes and revenue receipts, i.e. grants, should be increased. States work to fulfil their goals with their own capacity and limited resources. By getting more financial grants from the central government, the states will be able to achieve their long-term goals in the short term. Developed India cannot be built without a developed Madhya Pradesh, therefore the share of the states in central taxes should be increased from 41 percent to 48 percent. This will empower the states and will help in taking the nation towards development.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh is a big state, hence its needs are also big. The aim of the central and state governments is to establish a welfare state. This aim can be achieved through better coordination and mutual harmony between the center and the states.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was addressing an important meeting with the Chairman and members of the 16th Central Finance Commission at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center on Thursday. He also apprised the Finance Commission of the state’s expectations by mentioning the need for financial resources to achieve the state’s long-term goals.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh is the most progressive state in the country. The state is rapidly progressing in the fields of agriculture, infrastructure, education, health, forest, tourism, urban development and industrial development. For further development in these areas, more financial support/grants are required from the central government. He said that Madhya Pradesh also has to contribute to developed India. We will fulfill the resolution of developed Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that right now our budget is about three and a half lakh crore rupees. In the next five years, we will increase this budget to double.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav told the Finance Commission that we are working together with the neighbouring states for water sharing by linking rivers. We are working together with Rajasthan in the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) river linking project. The Central Government has allocated Rs 90 thousand crore for this national river linking project. Similarly, work is being done in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh government for the Ken-Betwa Link National Project. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given pride to Madhya Pradesh by performing Bhoomi Pujan of both the national projects. Now we are working on the Tapti River Project with the Maharashtra Government. He said that till 20 years ago, only 7 lakh hectares of agricultural land was irrigated in the state, today we have irrigated more than 48 lakh hectares of agricultural land in the state. We are running a campaign for river linking in the state. We have a close relationship with the farmers and it is our first duty to provide water to the fields. Due to our policies, the trend of farmers towards organic farming has increased rapidly.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that due to our 18 new industrial policies, investors are also joining. The state has received investment proposals worth Rs 30.77 lakh crore through RIC and GIS-Bhopal. This is a symbol of investors’ growing trust in Madhya Pradesh. We are creating industry cells in every district collectorate of the state, through which any investor’s problems can be solved at the district level as well. We are making trade and business easier in the state. We will take everyone’s cooperation in this.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that we will promote milk production in the state in every possible way. Our effort is that more than 20 percent of the country’s milk should be produced in Madhya Pradesh, this will make both our farmers and cattle rearers prosperous. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that we are also making full use of the energy of youth power. Following the Panchsheel principles, conservation of people, water, forest, land and biological diversity is our primary goal. He said that if forests are saved, water will be saved and if water is saved, human life will be saved. We are also making every necessary effort to preserve biological wealth.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that to make the farmers of the state self-reliant, solar pumps will be given to 30 lakh farmers in the next three years. This will make our farmers not only food providers but also energy providers. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that our government is going to provide permanent electricity connection to farmers for just five rupees, due to which our farmers will not have to wander anywhere for electricity connection.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also informed the Finance Commission about the innovations done in Madhya Pradesh in the last one year. He said that our government has started air ambulance service. Through this, many critical patients were airlifted to big hospitals in the last one year and their lives were saved. Our service has received a very good response.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, while demanding the necessary financial support for the development of the state and public welfare schemes before the Finance Commission, also separately outlined the special priorities of the state government. He also handed over a copy of the memorandum to the Finance Commission on behalf of the state government. In this, the needs of investment and financial support in various sectors have been mentioned in detail. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also informed the commission about the future plans of the state by the state government. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also presented mementos to the chairman and members of the commission.

Madhya Pradesh is aware of the progress in future

The Sixteenth Finance Commission, while praising the progress made in various areas of Madhya Pradesh’s development in an important meeting held in Bhopal today, said that Madhya Pradesh is also aware of future progress. Chairman of the Sixteenth Finance Commission, Shri Arvind Panagariya said that the country cannot develop without the development of big states. He said that along with achievements in the field of agriculture, industrial progress is also necessary. There is no example of a country becoming developed only on the basis of agriculture. It is necessary to make full use of our energy.

Commission Chairman Shri Panagariya said that if there is development, there will be urbanization too. This is necessary but steps can be taken for this. The process of job creation should also go on simultaneously. He said that the Commission has the challenge of making a roadmap for developed India. The Finance Commission is communicating with all the states. After the dialogue sessions, a decision can be taken on the allocation of financial resources to the states in consultation with all the expert members of the Commission.

The state can become an example for other states

Commission member Dr. Manoj Panda praised the development programs and innovative initiatives in Madhya Pradesh and said that the future of Madhya Pradesh is in safe hands. Commission member Mr. A.N. Jha said that Madhya Pradesh is the state with the highest economic growth in the past years. He said that Chief Minister Dr. Yadav’s thinking about development is positive and innovative. It can become an example for other states in many areas. Dr. Annie George Mathew praised the presentations made on various sectors from the state and said that attention will have to be paid to areas like disaster management and climate change. Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh said that Madhya Pradesh has made itself an ideal state in financial management. It has become a state with constant revenue surplus. Madhya Pradesh has also achieved all the targets of the 15th Finance Commission. He said that it is important for the country to protect resources like water, forest and land of Madhya Pradesh.

Welcoming the Chairman, members and officials of the 16th Finance Commission, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Jagdish Devda said that Madhya Pradesh is operating its financial resources with full capacity and efficiency. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, we kept our economy balanced. We have maintained a continuous revenue surplus since the year 2004-05. We used this revenue surplus and loan in the construction of productive capital assets.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Devda said that the state has achieved the target in both state tax revenue and state non-tax revenue to increase its own revenue. Our performance has been commendable in all the major indicators of debt and deficit within the limits of the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. We have worked in a planned manner for the timely and meaningful use of the long-term interest-free loan received from the Government of India for capital works. As a result, we have been successful in getting the maximum amount from the Center.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Devda said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has a goal of making the country a developed India by 2047. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, the state is moving ahead with the resolve to become a developed state by 2047. A comprehensive and well-organized roadmap has been prepared for this. A goal has been set to double the state’s economy in the next 5 years and to make strategic investments in important socio-economic sectors. Efforts are being made to increase own revenue resources to achieve its development goals. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Devda reiterated the commitment to further strengthen public financial management.

Chief Secretary Mr. Anurag Jain said in his welcome address that Madhya Pradesh has prepared a roadmap for developed Madhya Pradesh as per the vision of Prime Minister Mr. Modi for a developed India by 2047. A five-year action plan has been prepared. He said that work is being done in mission mode for Garib Kalyan Mission, Yuva Kalyan Mission, Kisan Kalyan and Women Empowerment. He said that the contribution of agriculture in the state’s GDP has increased. He said that keeping in mind the situation of the next 25 years, focus has been laid on urbanization as well as industrialization. Referring to regional investment conferences and the recently concluded Global Investors Summit, he said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, continuous follow-up is being done to bring the investment proposals on the ground.

Chief Secretary Mr. Jain said that Madhya Pradesh has made 18 policies. Tourism is a major sector. Madhya Pradesh has unlimited possibilities in the field of tourism. This also includes spiritual tourism. He said that the Public Trust Act and the Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act before it have made governance and administration easy and simple. Apart from this, many efforts like holistic data, online registration in property, mapping of properties, ownership scheme, use of “IGAT” online training for capacity building of employees have been appreciated at the national level.

All the cabinet members and administrative officers including Deputy Chief Minister Shri Rajendra Shukla were present in the meeting of the 16th Finance Commission.

Principal Secretary Finance Mr. Manish Rastogi gave a presentation on the overall financial scenario of Madhya Pradesh. Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Sanjay Kumar Shukla discussed the future financial needs and plans of urban administration and urban bodies. Principal Secretary Mrs. Deepali Rastogi discussed the financial management of panchayats and the requirements of additional resources. Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Shiv Shekhar Shukla said in his presentation on tourism and culture that new possibilities have been created for spiritual and cultural tourism. Apart from this, new areas like heritage, film tourism have also emerged. Under the new policies, investors have been attracted to invest in these. Principal Secretary Mr. Raghavendra Kumar Singh, while discussing the vision of the new Madhya Pradesh, said that a new Madhya Pradesh is being created with special attention on industrialization and the arrival of new areas like foreign capital investment, AI, cyber administration. Principal Secretary Mr. Manu Shrivastava told about the energy sector that the targets of the 15th Finance Commission have been met. Now attention is being paid to hybrid storage. Arrangements have been made to provide ample electricity to the farmers. Madhya Pradesh is the state which produces solar energy at the cheapest rate in the country.