Indore, 13 April (H.S.):
Under Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav's stewardship, Madhya Pradesh's Council of Ministers convened on April 13, 2026, sanctioning approximately ₹19,810 crore for public welfare and developmental initiatives, alongside approving new medical colleges in six districts.
Minister of State for Public Health and Family Welfare, Narendra Shivaji Patel, elucidated that approvals encompassed Public Works Department projects, irrigation ventures, Women and Child Development schemes, novel medical institutions, and agricultural proposals.
Notably, ₹286.26 crore was earmarked for the Midwasa Medium Irrigation Project in Sagar district, irrigating 7,200 hectares across 27 villages in Sagar tehsil. Public Works allocations totaled ₹10,801 crore, including ₹150 crore for BOT road development oversight, ₹765 crore for BOT project terminations, ₹4,564 crore for annuities, and ₹5,322 crore for MP Road Development Corporation's NDB external funding—extending 16th Finance Commission continuity from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031.
The cabinet endorsed ₹3,553.35 crore for seamless execution of Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman and Mid-Day Meal schemes under Panchayat and Rural Development till March 31, 2031. For Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), ₹2,250 crore was approved over five years to promote farm mechanization, custom hiring centers via rural youth, stubble management, and subsidies for forest patta holders' hand/bullock-drawn tools—enhancing farm power, curbing labor dependency, slashing costs/time, generating employment, and benefiting forest-right farmers.
Central assistance facilitated new medical colleges with ₹1,674 crore over five years, affiliating district hospitals thereto. Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief sustained health services till March 31, 2031, with ₹1,005 crore. Women and Child Development garnered ₹240.42 crore for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, One Stop Centres, and Mahila Helpline-181 continuity from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Eight additional One Stop Centres received nod at Maihar, Mauganj, Pandhurna, Manawar and Pithampur in Dhar, Lasudia and Sanwer in Indore, and Petlawad in Jhabua. Crucially, fresh medical colleges in Rajgarh, Mandla, Neemuch, Mandsaur, Shivpuri, and Singrauli promise augmented healthcare access.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
