BJP will win the biggest-ever mandate in the state

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Shivraj Singh Chouhan, chief minister, Madhya Pradesh

- PRATUL SHARMA

Q/ Your programmes for women and girl children are being talked about. What is the reason for this focus? 

A/ The focus on women empowerment is not a recent one. When I first became chief minister (in November 2005), we started the Ladli Laxmi scheme (monetary assistance for educating girls) in 2006. Today, 46 lakh girls are ladli laxmi.

Earlier, the sex ratio here was skewed—916 girls to 1,000 boys. Girls were killed in the womb as they were considered a burden. In our village, a boy’s birth was celebrated; if it was a girl, women refused to see her face.

I knew since [childhood] that something should be done. When I was in a position to do something, we came out with the Ladli Laxmi scheme. We pay college fees of all daughters. When she turns 21, she is given [a lump sum]. Dowry was a major issue, so we started the very popular Kanya Vivah scheme and started organising mass marriages.

Q/ Have these schemes made an impact?

A/ Madhya Pradesh was the first state to give 50 per cent reservation to women in local body polls. The impact was visible—more than half the mayors, sarpanchs and municipal councillors were women. Those who used to wear veils began running the government.

For the first time, we gave 30 per cent reservation to women in police recruitment. There was a hue and cry that they would not be able to handle situations and crime will increase. But I went ahead with the reservation. We now see the girls in uniform ably handling law-and-order situations.