Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reached Lakhnadaun in Seoni district on Wednesday. He took part in the programme organised for capacity enhancement of Small Forest Produce Cooperative Society at School of Excellence ground, Lakhnadaun. State Forest Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah was also present with him. The Forest Department had organised bonus distribution to tendu leaf collectors and capacity enhancement program of small forest produce cooperative societies of total 13 forest divisions of Seoni and surrounding districts.

Chouhan reached Lakhnadaun by a helicopter, where he inspected stalls of medicines, pickles and other food items made from forest wealth by the Forest Department and other departments. The Chief Minister laid foundation stone of works worth about Rs 300 crore for 48 projects of different departments in Lakhnadaun region.

The Chief Minister symbolically distributed Rs 78 crore to tendu leaf collectors. Vindhya Herbal’s new products Khajur Prash, Anjeer Prash and Mahu Aprash were inaugurated. Certificates were given to girls under Ladli Laxmi Yojana. The Chief Minister told about schemes of his government and said that the government has started Ladli Bahna Yojana. In which all women will be given Rs 1,000 monthly. Announcing from the platform of Lakhnadaun, he said that on March 5, this scheme will be launched from women’s conference in Bhopal.

The Chief Minister informed that the Government is now increasing old age pension from Rs 600 to Rs 1000. At the same time, from coming April, the premises will be closed to discourage liquor in the state. Liquor shops will be made 100 meters away from schools and religious places. Chouhan said that schemes are being implemented for every individual. Many recruitments were taken out for educated unemployed. At the same time it was also said that premises will be closed. He said that Kamal Nath stopped many schemes during his tenure, which they will start and the Teerth Darshan Scheme which has been closed. That too will be restarted. Pilgrimage will also be made to the elders in the aeroplane.

Union Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Forest, Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah, MP, Dr. Dhalsingh Bisen, MLA Seoni, Dinesh Rai, MLA Kevalari, Rakesh Pal, MLA Lakhnadaun, Yogendra Singh and BJP District President, Alok Dubey and other local public representatives were present in the programme.