MP govt promotes healthy journalism

By Ataullah Faizan

Bhopal: July 21, 2011

In times when credibility of media, paid news, objectionable advertisements and TV serials poisoning culture have hogged both print and electronic media, the Madhya Pradesh government is trying to promote healthy journalism, which can help build the society on the ethos of principles, integrity, honesty and patriotism. It is of the firm belief that a mechanism is must for fixing status and giving direction to media , reports SMS News & Features.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is of the opinion that Central government and media should take steps in this regard since the state governments are not well equipped with powers to rein in media.

      It may be mentioned journalism is undergoing an amazing metamorphosis amid the transformation of technology and economy. It is an urgent need to have a mechanism to review the status and direction of media. The media houses should regulate themselves or on cooperative basis in the absence of government regulatory laws.

      The country has seen a great change in society, economy and state ruling sector in last few years. Therefore, there is need for multi-ownership instead of single ownership to become the voice of common man. The media should not bend down before market. Journalists should not be influenced by unfair advantage.

 There is not denying the face that true journalists are path-breakers of the country. Journalists should maintain credibility and need of their writings. Journalism as of today is so relevant as it was in the past. The journalists should lead the country in right direction and disseminate the national issues to the masses.

    Led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Madhya Pradesh government is trying to ensure healthy journalism in the state. It has launched several welfare schemes and given a number of facilities to journalists to isolate them from yellow journalism and market pressure. According to Mr Chouhan corruption and terrorism are biggest challenges before the country. Development is also a major issue. Therefore, newspapers and electronic media should help in exposing corruption and highlight news of development.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan – Common man's CM

By Ataullah Faizan

Bhopal, July 14, 2011

   

  Soon after assuming reins of the state government eight years ago, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has made it a habit to interact with common people either by going among them or calling them to his residence in the form of Panchayats and Mahapanchayats of various sections of society. It has helped the Chief Minister to know the difficulties and problems of people directly from them. This has led to the formulation and launch of various welfare schemes in the State, which were unheard of before the regime of Chouhan, reports SMS News & Feature.

. Chouhan once again interacted with common man at their doorstep. The episode occurred in Indore recently. In the morning, the Chief Minister had left Indore Residency for the airport. En route, he stopped suddenly at the shed of daily wage labourers at Kalani Nagar. There, he held detailed talk with labourers. He enquired about their well being and elicited their views about the schemes being conducted for their welfare    The Chief Minister instructed the collector to make arrangements of sitting and ensure cleanliness at the daily wage labourers' shed. He talked to labourers about their wages. Labourers told him that each labourer gets daily wages ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 250 per day. They said that they get five days' labour work a week. The Chief Minister instructed that ration cards should be issued to those labourers who do not have ration cards.

  Not only this, Chouhan also ate poha at a roadside vendor's shop. When he was interacting with labourers, poha-jalebi vendor Arvind Yadav brought poha and water to the Chief Minister. To this, Chouhan said, "Bhaiyya please wait for a while. Let me first complete my talk with labourers. Then I will visit your handcart. I will not return without eating poha." After the interaction, the Chief Minister fulfilled his promise promptly, reached the handcart of a vendor and ate 'poha' there. Yadav said, "I am lucky that you have come to my handcart. I used to hear about the good works being undertaken by you. Today, I have the chance to meet you directly. It seems incredible that the head of the state ate poha at a handcart."

It may be mentioned that now no section of society in Madhya Pradesh has been left whose Panchayat was not held at the CM's residence, problems redressed and a plethora of welfare schemes launched for them. Holding of Panchayats at Chief Minister’s residence has been the largest ever exercise to elicit the opinion of the different sections of people before taking decisions for them.

According to Chouhan, common man is central to the schemes and programmes of the state government and their betterment is the only criteria of progress. The state government has been able to give a human face to the economy. Now, nothing can stop the progress of the state when the Chief Minister is committed to see Madhya Pradesh as a front ranking state of the country. He has been calling upon the people to contribute their mite in all round progress and prosperity of the state.

In fact the tenure of the present government has been a golden period for industrialisation of the state.

Noorul Hasnain on Muslim Saleem's poetry

Syed Noorul Hasnain is an established litterateur and critic of Urdu literature. He has deep insight into poetry as well. Here is an article written by him focusing on some brighter aspects and dimensions of Muslim Saleem's poetry.

CM gives major relief to farmers through massive subsidy

By Ataullah Faizan

Bhopal, July 6, 2011

On the initiative of Chief Minister Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state cabinet on Tuesday decided to sanction Rs. 1776 crore subsidy for year 2011-12 to provide relief to power consumers of some categories on the tariff fixed by the Electricity Regulatory Commission with effect from June 1,2011. The decisions comes as a major relief to farmers in the state, reports SMS News and Features.

As per the decision, 90 paisa per unit subsidy would be given to domestic consumers consuming upto 30 units, Rs. 1.25 per unit subsidy to power loom consumers upto 25 horsepower, Rs. 1.75 to Rs. 2.05 per unit to permanent agricultural consumers and Rs. 1.75 per unit subsidy would be provided to temporary agricultural consumers.Besides, Rs. 15 per unit subsidy would be granted to the agricultural consumers being supplies power through DTR meters, whereas electricity would be supplied free of cost to the farmers of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes owning up to one hectare for use of up to five horsepower. The high-tension lift/group irrigation consumers would be exempted from annual minimum charge and low tension consumers would be provided subsidy at the rate of Rs. 1.90 per unit at par with agricultural consumers. The below poverty line scheduled caste and scheduled tribe families having single point light connection would be supplied electricity free of cost upto 25 units. For the street light schemes of municipalities/nagar panchayats subsidy would be provided at the rate of Rs. 95 per kilowatt from the prescribed cost. In addition to this, the cess on all categories of power consumers is being abolished. This would result in 10 paisa per unit reduction in their electricity bills.

It may be mentioned that the State Government under the stewardship of Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been in the forefront of providing various facilities to farmers. In January this year,  the Chief Minister had said that a Farmers Welfare Fund would be set up in the state. The Krishak Kalyan Ayog would be continued and made more effective. Chairman of the Ayog would be appointed.

Chouhan had directed to forward the proposal to the Government of India for considering the agricultural field of farmers as unit under National Crop Insurance Scheme. He said that he would himself take up the matter with the Prime Minister during his proposed meeting with him. The Chief Minister directed to strictly check the sale of fake fertilizers-seeds and other farm input. He directed that action taken report in cases registered this year in this regard should be presented before him. He said that not only sellers of fake fertilisers-seeds but concerning government staff found lax in prevention of their sale and registering cases would also not be spared. The Chief Minister underlined the need to reach the benefits of schemes for providing subsidies on farm implements. He said that benefits of subsidy should be ensured to eligible farmers. He also sought a list of beneficiaries of these schemes. Mr Chouhan stressed the need for close monitoring of Balram Tal and Khet Talab schemes. He said that implementation of these schemes should be got assessed by School of Good Governance and a report of this be submitted to him.