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Digvijay Singh
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister

A chat with Digvijay Singh , Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister.
Chat conducted on Saturday, July 29, 2000, between 1700 hours and 1800 hours IST.

MODERATOR: Welcome to the online chat with Digvijay Singh, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
Digvijay Singh: My greetings to all the surfers and I hope I come up to your expectations.

Avinash Pandey: Dear Shri Digvijay Singhji, This is Avinash Pandey from Silicon Valley, USA. You visited us in Jabalpur this February. I wish to know if you have any plans to visit Silicon Valley for promoting IT in MP and wooing investors to MP?
Digvijay Singh: Well, I may be visiting the US in September, third week. And if I do come, then I will certainly visit Silicon Valley.

B.N.Puri: Mr Digvijay Singh, Sir, you are a graduate in mechanical engineering. Do you think you will be able to make your State a forward state when there are so many cross-political currents in the state to foil your endeavours?
Digvijay Singh: Well, Mr Puri, I certainly have a vision to take the State forward and I don't think any cross-political current can come in the way. I have a fair amount of political will to do what I think is right.

Ravi Puri: Mr.Digvijay Singh, Mrs Sonia Gandhi is your party President. Do you think you are going well with the Party in your state, or do you have to give way on some occasions much against your wishes in order to keep your Chief Minister's seat intact?
Digvijay Singh: Mr Puri, you have a very interesting question. Sonia Gandhi is my leader and shall remain so. And I can assure you that she never interferes in the functioning of the State Government.

Vijay: How do you feel when young, capable leaders like you are sidelined to make place for people whose only qualification is being part of the Gandhi family? Don't you feel the Congress should break away from it's dynastic traditions to make way for younger, more dynamic leaders?
Digvijay Singh: Mr Vijay, there is no question of feeling sidelined - the Gandhi family has tradition, has history and service towards the country -- which no other family has in this country today. Mrs Sonia Gandhi is a personality which keeps the Congress intact and there is no reason to break away from the so-called dynastic traditions.

Abhinav Pradhan: Do you see your self as PM of the country some years from now?
Digvijay Singh: Mr Pradhan, I am very happy and content to be the Chief Minister of the largest state in the country.

Sunil Prasad: Dear Mr Chief Minister, from a remote control Chief Minister to an all-powerful Chief Minister must have been a long journey for you. I wonder if your administration in MP has taken any serious note of the Human Development Report that your Government produced. Did your administration ever use this as a benchmark for developmental activities?
Digvijay Singh: Yes, we do take the Human Development Report into consideration when we draw up our plan and policies. In fact, it was a revelation to find that the Human Development Index of the Bundelkhand region was worse than that of the tribal areas of Chattisgarh. We do use our first HDR as a benchmark.

MAS Reddy: Do you have any future plans to form a regional party in MP, like Pawar in Maharashtra?
Digvijay Singh: Mr Reddy, I have no plans to form a regional party because I personally feel that regional parties have no future in this country today.

A. Gupta: MP is such a big state -- why does it never make it to the headlines with regard to advancements and achievements?
Digvijay Singh: Mr Gupta, Madhya Pradesh is a big state and it is certainly making headlines in literacy, in IT, watershed management and other social sectors. I don't know which paper you are reading these days.

A. Gupta: What is being done for the state of education in the State? The standard of university education and of the campuses themselves is fast going downhill.
Digvijay Singh: We are concentrating on primary education. We have come up with a scheme called the Education Guarantee Scheme which provides a primary school on demand by the community and the teacher is appointed by the community, but the salary and the reading material is provided by the State Government. As far as higher education is concerned, we have not started any new colleges -- I believe that existing colleges must be upgraded and the quality of education must improve. We are making efforts to do that.

Manjit Brar: Should you as a CM not embark on a goodwill visit to the western countries to solicit the help of NRIs for setting up high tech ventures in MP?
Digvijay Singh: Mr Brar, a goodwill visit to western countries to attract NRIs would succeed if we build up adequate infrastructure -- especially in the roads and energy sectors. I would like to inform you as far as industrialisation goes, MP is among the first five states in the country.

PC Sahajwala: Sir, how would you comment about your party president? Has she gained enough maturity to become a full-fledged Indian politician?
Digvijay Singh: Mrs Sonia Gandhi is the most acceptable leader in the Congress party. And she has certainly become a full-fledged Indian politician.

Manoj Misra: Do you support VC Shukla's movement for Chattisgarh? Digvijay Singh: We all support the movement for Chattisgarh. In fact, this was a promise in our election manifesto of ‘93 and ‘98.

Sudip: I am a computer engineer working in the US; if after two yrs I want to come back to MP and start my own business or new job, can I expect same growth -- as in other states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, UP? Or should I expect growth like in AP, Karnataka?
Digvijay Singh: I would be very happy to welcome you back to MP and you should expect a growth like any of the leading states in the country.

Sudip: Being a CM of MP and having analytical mind of a technical man, how do you use a computer in your day to day life? Does your government have any kind of data warehouse where by you can just log in and analyse the tons of data like how many murders or theft incidents happened this week, how many deaths this month due to dowry, how much revenue a xyz sector earned this quarter, etc?
Digvijay Singh: We have decided about e-governance in MP and we are developing data warehouses in every district, where we can provide information which a common man would need from the State, like land records, and other relevant records. You would be happy to know that in MP all the tehsils and the districts have been connected by Internet and our land record data would be fed by June 2001 and other related materials are also being fed, so that any common man can get the information from any of the kiosks which the private people are setting up. In fact, Reliance Telecom has signed an MOU with us to set up 7,500 kiosks throughout the State.

PC Sahajwala: Sir, if given a chance to choose between the CM-ship of MP and the President-ship of the Congress, which one would u choose and on what basis?
Digvijay Singh: I would be very happy to remain the CM of MP.

Arti: Sir, your focus on development through social engineering is laudable and praiseworthy but, in the present scenario, with naxalism, dacoity, kidnappings and other law and order problems, do you not think that peace and security are essential for any society to develop either economically or socially? The question becomes important with your low priority on police infrastructure and responsive and effective police administration, vis a vis other Indian states.
Digvijay Singh: I don't think the present scenario of law and order in MP is too bad. We are considered to be one of the most peaceful states in the country. And we are taking steps to make the police more responsive to the peoples' needs.

Umesh: Why do the old people in politics not retire and give space for the new generation? For example, you are a young man, as are Chandrababu Naidu and SM Krishna -- having energy you could do something. What do the old who are unfit hang on to the power?
Digvijay Singh: Well, in politics, people don't retire. And the younger people will have to do their best to elbow them out.

Sanjeev Sethi: Is it true that Madhya Pradesh roads will be constructed when assembly elections are near so that your party again comes in as a winner?
Digvijay Singh: We are ensuring that the roads are completed by June 2001.

B.N. PURI: Mr.Singh, Sir, You are a Mechanical Engineer. In my opinion, a politician can be a good technician, but a technician cannot be a good politician. What are your views on this, please?
Digvijay Singh: I don't agree. A technician, in your own words, can be a good politician. And you don't have to do research on that.

B.N. PURI: Mr. Singh, as a Chief Minister do you feel that you are a FORCE to reckon with for implementing decisions taken or you find yourselves as a FARCE who compromises with party leadership for amending decisions taken?
Digvijay Singh: Mr Puri, I feel that the credibility of a politician depends on the promises he keeps and, to me, this is most important. And I don't usually compromise on principles and on issues.

Somasekhar Konduru: Mr. CM, what do you think about Mr.Chandrababu Naidu (CM of AP) as Chief Minister of MP?
Digvijay Singh: Mr Konduru, what do you think of Digvijay Singh as the CM of Andhra Pradesh?

Vishweshwar Bhat: Dear Singhji, Are you happy about your performance so far as the Chief Minister?
Digvijay Singh: A CM should never be satisfied with his performance. Because a satisfied ruler is a curse to the society.

Selvakumar: Do you think Sonia will survive as Congress chief in coming years?
Digvijay Singh: Yes, she will.

Gupta: The MPEB funds position is very bad. Payment of equipment suppliers is not made for last 12 months by MPEB officials, so that there is a large outstanding from the State Government. What is the State Government. doing to put MPEB on the right track?
Digvijay Singh: All state electricity boards are in a bad way. We are trying our best to cut expenditure, reduce thefts, increase efficiency of the power plants and reduce the transmission-distribution losses. We are also going for 100% metering.

Somasekhar Konduru: Respected CM, what is the deadline for the promises you made during the election -- like availability of drinking water for all poor people?
Digvijay Singh: I hope to fulfill all my election promise by November 2003, when we go back to the people. The last time, we fulfilled more than 90% of our election promises, made in our election manifesto.

Somasekhar Konduru: In my view corruption is India's number one problem which halts development in every single area including education. What is the action plan from your side?
Digvijay Singh: Corruption can only be controlled through transparency and involvement of the community in the implementation of the government programmes. And also, we should make our laws and rules simple for people to understand them and follow them. The role of the inspectors should be minimised.

Kalpesh: Sir,what is your stand for the Narmada project? Why are you not giving full hearted support to Gujarat for completing the project?
Digvijay Singh: Obviously you mean Sardar Sarovar. I am not opposing it. I am only asking for a reduction of height. By reducing the height, the Gujarat Government does not lose a single drop of water, but will be able to save more than 25,000 people from being uprooted. So I am only asking for a reduction of height, not a scrapping of the dam.

Jugs: Ever since Mrs Sonia Gandhi became the Congress president, the Party is going from bad to worse. Don't you think that the Party neede a change at the top?
Digvijay Singh: I don't agree. She inherited the Party, which had already reached its lowest ebb in UP, Bihar, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. But you must not forget also that under her leadership we have formed government in MP, Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland and, if you analyse, the Congress Party is ruling in the largest number of states in the country today.

Koneru: What are your views on disinvestment?
Digvijay Singh: I personally feel that we have gone out of the era of the public sector and a very transparent system of disinvestment should be encouraged.

Arif: Sir, your concentration is more towards rural areas -- is it because you get more votes from them?
Digvijay Singh: Certainly, yes. Eighty per cent of my people live in rural areas.

Niikhil: Sir, I can't understand why you and your you people are supporting the bifurcation of the State even if we have examples of the North Eastern states which are highly underdeveloped in spite of their small size.
Digvijay Singh: Chattisgarh is an emotional issue and it would be a viable state. Don't forget that MP is the largest State in the country.

Somasekhar Konduru: Who is the best Congress leader ?
Digvijay Singh: Srimati Sonia Gandhi, obviously.

Kamlesh: Mr Singh, don't you feel that you too need to take up an extensive PR exercise much like Mr Naidu and the Gujarat government to corner a fair share of the limelight? In any case, you have done no less for your state.
Digvijay Singh: I am extremely grateful to you for your recognition of my work. If it has reached you without publicity hype, I am quite happy about it.

Sanjay: Sir, In my observation, a Chief Minister of MP get complaints from the public from morning to night. How does our CM keep himself positive? Because negative strokes always reduce efficiency.
Digvijay Singh: I am a born optimist. And I have always taken things as they came. And my approach has always been positive.

Rana Bhim Singh: Now that the Lokayukta has ordered cancellation of plots to newspapers on account of misuse, will you take immediate action?
Digvijay Singh: Under the Lukayukta Act, it is only a recommendation. It is for the government to either accept it or politely reject it.

Raj sodhia: Mr Singh, I am wondering why MP state is not being sold to outside world or even large Indian companies as a central distribution point. With rising cost of transportation, a distribution system is going to be a major factor in marketing in the competitive environment of present and future Indian industry. All other states have their own advantages to drum up and MP cannot boast of such advantages; thus natural geographic advantages should be exploited. MP bureaucracy and administration is inward-looking and not aggressive enough to project itself to the outside world.
Digvijay Singh: I totally agree with you. We are now proposing to make MP a warehousing hub of the country and because of the geographical advantage, we are coming out with the policy for encouraging the setting up of such warehouses in the state.

P. K. Mishra: Dear Sir, as majority of people of MP earn their living from agriculture that is subdued considering the present level of technological advancement in the field, what measures is your Government going to take to reduce the gap between these and to enhance technology transfer?

Nagarjun Jain:
The health services in State are still below standard, especially in villages and in small towns. Infrastructure -- especially roads -– is in very bad shape. Is there any way you are finding other than the State’s own revenue to revitalise these areas? The basic telecom service providers are just concentrating towards cities, which is against the essence of bringing them to state to provide better infrastructure to the State. Government – offices’ running cost is more than what they are imparting to the state revenue. What are the strict measures that you have planned for this?
Digvijay Singh: I totally agree that the establishment cost is increasing -- which is leaving much less for capital expenditure in infrastructure and social sectors. We have taken very unpleasant decisions to downsize the government and our finances are now improving. In a state like MP, which is spread in 73,000 villages and a land area of 450,000 square kilometres, we can only deliver primary health services by training educated unemployed living in the villages and training local midwives. We have a scheme called Janswasthyarakshak, which has people trained in primary health care and provides primary health care in villages.
Mr Mishra has asked about the present level of agriculture -- our productivity has gone up and we are the largest producers of pulses, oilseeds and third producer of foodgrains in the country today.

Sanjiv Khanna: You have done really commendable work in the areas of Panchayati Raj and elementary education. You say that Kerala is your role model for development. I wish to ask you that in these times of boasting about high technology and displaying of laptops -- who gives you inspiration to address the real problems that India faces and to attempt to overcome them successfully, and which are unfortunately nowhere in the radar screens of our media or in the minds of ruling elite?
Digvijay Singh: I basically believe that development has to be bottom to top rather than top to bottom. I want to make my state fully literate, I want to reduce the birth rate, I want to reduce the infant-child mortality rate, I want to increase the productivity of agriculture. As far as the boasting about high technology and displaying of laptops is concerned, we would rather allow the private initiative to do that for us and the state government should frame the right policies and create the right environment for investment in this sector.

Masreddy: BJD’s Patnaik is threatening to withdraw support from the NDA -- is it correct for a CM to say that? The center can't dismiss such CMs threatening the highest authority. How long can we have such irresponsible CMs ruling this country?
Digvijay Singh: I don't think Naveen Patnaik is serious about his withdrawal of support of the NDA. I personally feel that he has no options.

Digvijay Singh: Thank you for chatting with me. It has been a great experience -- I have my personal website and I would be very happy if you could log on to that. And whenever you have something to say to me, do write in at cm@vallabh.mp.nic.in or chiefminister@madhyapradesh-india.org. Happy surfing!

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