The dilemma faced by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over whether he should compete with his counterpart in Gujarat, Narendra Modi, and promote industry, or go ahead with his focus on agriculture may cost the BJP some votes.
Industrialists in the State are unhappy that Chouhan has not addressed many of their concerns during his 10-year regime. According to the Industrial Promotion Policy, the Chouhan Government stands for faster economic development and employment generation by sustainable use of the resources available in the State.
infrastructure
Chouhan also commits that his effort is to promote small and medium enterprises so that the State can avert the impact of global slowdown.
He has also promised that rules and procedures would be streamlined for speedy implementation and timely approvals of investment proposals.
The State, which holds approximately 70,000 hectares of land, had also offered infrastructure at a lower cost. “His promises have mostly been hollow. We do not expect much from him,” says Yogesh Goyal, Secretary, Govindpura Industries Association.
He says small industries have been neglected. Sushil Kumar Kedia, the chief coordinator of the Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries, says the State lags in infrastructural development due to lack of focus.
“There are no international flights from the international airports of Indore and Bhopal. Dry port facilities are also not proper. Rail connectivity is poor. The condition of roads is bad in many parts (of the State),” Kedia said.
Despite the availability of land and labour at cheaper rates, it is becoming difficult to attract investments, he said.
Vikas Samvad, and NGO which has which studied the investment pattern in Madhya Pradesh, says in a document: “In the name of development and growth, State-sheltered land grabbing is on full swing in Madhya Pradesh, where two-thirds of the population lives below the poverty line, having more than six million malnourished children and facing a high level of infant mortality crisis.”