The Tuesday Interview | 'Madhya Pradesh's agriculture sector is robust. Industrial growth next logical step,' says Mohan Yadav

Mohan Yadav has, in his first stint, sought to bring in industrial investments from India and abroad to a state that has relied on the agrarian economy. Excerpts of his interview with DH’s Sumit Pande.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav completes one year in office this month. A surprise choice after almost two decades of Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s rule, Yadav has, in his first stint, sought to bring in industrial investments from India and abroad to a state that has relied on the agrarian economy. Excerpts of his interview with DH’s Sumit Pande.

How do you see the first 12 months of your tenure as Madhya Pradesh’s CM?

When we started, people tried to cast aspersions that we would not be able to run the existing schemes of the BJP government. We have not only successfully run them but also added a few more. Our budgetary allocations have increased, and this will continue in the coming years.

Unlike previous governments, you have placed a greater emphasis on industrial and technological investments. Why?

Our agricultural growth has been quite robust. Our farm’s contribution to the state gross domestic product is more than double the national average. The next logical step would be to usher in industrial growth as well. Our agricultural produce is readily available to the industries that set up plants and process it into products. We want to create employment opportunities for all sections through small-scale industries, food industries, medium-scale industries, and IT parks. We have also held industrial summits in different parts of the country, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Coimbatore.

Industrialisation in MP, though it is contiguous to Maharashtra, has been limited to a particular belt around Indore. Why would tech industries come to the state?

Precisely the reason why we have been holding industrial summits in various divisions and district headquarters rather than keeping it confined to the capital. We have organised regional industrial summits, which will culminate in the Global Industrial Summit in Bhopal next year. Our effort is to showcase MP as a destination for Indian and global investors. We are one of the most politically stable states in the country. And the response so far has been overwhelming. In the Bundelkhand summit at Sagar, we got proposals worth Rs 23,000 crore, and this alone is expected to generate 28,000 investment opportunities.

You have just returned from a visit to the United Kingdom and Germany. What has been the investors’ response?

Very positive. We had fruitful discussions with a host of industry and government leaders. For those exploring new markets, MP offers vast opportunities. Those with existing setups are looking to expand their outputs. The LAPP Group, a leading manufacturer of cables, leads, and other related accessories, has already invested Rs 100 crore in the state. 

From tech to agriculture, we are expecting investments to the tune of Rs 78,000 crore—Rs 60,000 crore from the UK and Rs 18,000 crore from Germany.

You also signed an MoU with the Statgurtt State Museum of Natural History, the biggest in Germany.

The museum has on display 12 million objects in natural history and is one of its kind in Germany. The reason for this collaboration is to facilitate knowledge sharing, resource exchange, and collaboration for fossils discovered in Madhya Pradesh. This will help us preserve our rich natural heritage for posterity.

MP was one of the first states to start direct cash transfers to poor women under Laadli Behna Yojna. Other states and political parties seem to have emulated you. But the strain on the exchequer is also evident.

The scheme is a shining example of women’s empowerment and the choices created for women. We are increasing our budget to almost double in the next five years, so resources will not be a problem. Not just Laadli Behna, MP has a host of other schemes for women. For instance, under Modi ji’s leadership, many central government-sponsored schemes, such as providing free sewing machines to women, are a great success. Our economy is growing, and with the sort of investment expected to come to Madhya Pradesh over the next four years, we will have not just enough but surplus reserves to provide budgetary allocations for the social sector schemes.

You were at the Ambedkar House in London on Constitution Day, reading the Preamble.

Yes. I happened to be in the city and paid my respects to Dr. Ambedkar. He is the shining example of how someone can move forward despite hindrances. Constitution Day has special significance for us, as it is also the birth anniversary of Harisingh Gaur, a member of the Constituent Assembly who donated his entire property for the establishment of Sagar University.