Promote use of Swadeshi goods in Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri celebrations: Chief Minister Dr. Yadav

Aug 2025 : Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has announced that there will be a state-wide holiday on Ganesh Chaturthi. He also directed the formation of a committee to review the holiday arrangements determined by the state government. Dr. Yadav further informed that in the upcoming 2027 municipal general elections, the post of chairperson will be filled through direct elections by the voters. The Chief Minister was addressing ministers ahead of the Council of Ministers’ meeting on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav emphasized that in the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri, swadeshi (indigenous) goods should be promoted. He said idols should be made primarily of clay and paper pulp, while the use of Plaster of Paris—which poses environmental challenges—should be discouraged. In public religious events as well as household rituals, people should use domestically made clothes and decorative materials. This, he said, will encourage small traders and move us towards building an Atmanirbhar Madhya Pradesh and Atmanirbhar Bharat in line with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

In his address, the Chief Minister also shared the achievements of the Mining Conclave held in Katni. He said that investment proposals worth ₹56,414 crore were received during the conclave. The event focused on opportunities in critical minerals, strategic minerals, and rare earth elements, along with discussions on their processing and value addition. MoUs were signed with Texmin, Indian Institute of Mines, and IIT Dhanbad. Participation included Coal India Limited, Manganese Ore India Limited, Hindustan Copper Limited, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Texmin IIT, Indian School of Mines, and Indian Rare Earths Limited. Representatives from private firms such as Singhal Business Pvt. Ltd., Vinmar Resources, Ramnik Power, and Mineware Advisor also engaged in discussions on future prospects.

The Chief Minister highlighted that Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari has sanctioned road network projects worth over ₹73,000 crore for the state. Key projects include the Jabalpur–Bhopal Greenfield Highway (255 km), Indore–Bhopal Greenfield Corridor (160 km), Lakhnadon–Raipur Four-Lane Highway (220 km), along with the Ujjain–Jhalawar road, Barnawar–Timarni road, Khandwa–Betul Four-Lane, Indore Six-Lane Eastern Bypass, and in total, 27 major projects. He added that a Tiger Corridor will be created to link the Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, and Panna National Parks. The state will also get direct connectivity with ports, boosting tourism development.

Speaking about medical education, Dr. Yadav informed that during Union Minister Shri J.P. Nadda’s visit to Jabalpur, two new government medical colleges—Sheopur and Singrauli—built with the support of the Government of India, were inaugurated. Each has been allotted 100 MBBS seats. With this, the number of government medical colleges in the state has risen to 19, from the earlier 17. Currently, the state has 2,575 MBBS seats and 1,357 postgraduate seats. As part of an innovative PPP model, contracts have been signed for medical colleges in Katni, Dhar, Betul, and Panna, which will be ready for academic sessions within a year.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav further informed that to promote religious tourism and pilgrimage, a Global Spiritual Conclave will be held in Ujjain on August 27. He said this conclave is not just an event but a platform to present our rich culture and spiritual traditions before the world. More than 300 eminent personalities, including spiritual leaders, thinkers, corporate hospitality leaders, large temple trust officials, and technology innovators from India and abroad, will participate. Trustees and managers of all major temples and pilgrim centers across the country have been invited.

Additionally, a Regional Tourism Conclave will be organized on August 29–30 in Gwalior. This will increase tourist inflow, boost tourism investments in the Gwalior–Chambal and Sagar divisions, and generate new employment opportunities for youth. The conclave will transform the region into a new hub of industrial and economic growth. More than 500 tourism experts, policymakers, and industrialists from India and abroad will participate in this event.