Bhopal/Ashta, April 12 (NationPress) Chief Minister Mohan Yadav emphasized on Sunday that the all-encompassing advancement of Madhya Pradesh cannot be achieved without the inclusive development of its daughters and sisters.

He made this statement while addressing a significant Women’s Empowerment Conference in Ashta, where he executed the direct transfer of the 35th installment of the ambitious Ladli Behna Yojana.

“Under the visionary guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a groundbreaking initiative will commence this month. For the first time since Independence, a special three-day parliamentary session starting on April 16 aims to guarantee 33 percent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies,” Yadav revealed.

Reiterating the state government’s dedication, he stated, “To empower women towards self-sufficiency, we have already allocated over Rs 55,000 crore through the Ladli Behna Yojana. Today, from the auspicious grounds of Ashta, Rs 1,836 crore has been directly credited into the accounts of 1.25 crore Ladli Behnas with just one click. The festival of Raksha Bandhan is now celebrated monthly across Madhya Pradesh.

The Chief Minister characterized Ashta as a ‘Triveni Sangam’ symbolizing development, education, and women’s empowerment. He announced various new initiatives for girl students, such as the construction of a new facility for the Girls’ Higher Secondary School, along with hostel accommodations for both college and school girls.

Yadav also inaugurated the splendid new buildings of the Sandipani School in Ashta and Jawar. The Ashta campus, constructed at a cost of Rs 61 crore over 15 acres, currently serves around 3,800 students from KG-1 to Class 12 across arts, science, commerce, and agriculture streams. The Jawar school has been erected at Rs 39.45 crore.

Both schools are equipped with modern libraries, computer laboratories, sports facilities, botanical gardens, rainwater harvesting systems, and sewage treatment plants. Free bus services transport students from nearly 100 neighboring villages.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister announced plans for a new ITI in Ashta, the establishment of girls’ hostels, urban beautification projects in Jawar, district-level SC hostels, a new building for the Girls’ Higher Secondary School, the introduction of the Science stream at Jawar College, the Guradiya Khurd Barrage, a new barrage on the Dudhi River, canal construction, and a Geeta Bhawan.

He proudly noted that Madhya Pradesh now boasts over 12 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and more than 6.5 million women involved in over 5 lakh Self-help groups. Under the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana, the government aids with Rs 55,000 for the marriage of daughters from economically disadvantaged families.

The state is also distributing 4 lakh bicycles, laptops to top-performing students, and scooters to school achievers.

On this occasion, Yadav performed Bhoomi Pujan and inaugurated development projects worth Rs 184 crore, including roads, community centers, police housing, drinking water schemes under Amrut 2.0, and beautification efforts.

The grand event saw a remarkable turnout of Ladli Behnas, who expressed their delight and appreciation for the government’s ongoing support.