Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 23 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav chaired a Cabinet meeting held at the state secretariat on Tuesday and the Council of Ministers approved a series of public welfare and development initiatives worth Rs 5,960 crores.
To strengthen women's empowerment and social upliftment, the Cabinet approved the continuation of the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana and Kalyani Vivah Sahayata Yojana with a financial outlay of Rs 1,740.57 crore for the next five years, beginning April 1, 2026.
Under the scheme, eligible girls, widows and deserted women from economically weaker families receive financial assistance of Rs 55,000 for marriage through mass marriage programmes. Between 2021-22 and 2025-26, more than Rs 989.80 crore was disbursed to 1,72,905 beneficiaries under the initiative.
The Council of Ministers also granted in-principle approval for a major education expansion programme involving the upgradation of 225 government middle schools into high schools and 300 high schools into higher secondary schools over a three-year period from 2026-27 to 2028-29. An estimated expenditure of Rs 635.24 crore has been approved for the initiative.
Under the Viksit Madhya Pradesh @2047 vision, the state aims to achieve a 100 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio by 2029. Based on district-level mapping, there is a requirement for 315 high schools and 214 higher secondary schools. Currently, the state's Gross Enrolment Ratio stands at 75 per cent at the high school level and 55 per cent at the higher secondary level.
The Cabinet further approved revised conditions for providing short-term crop loans to farmers at zero per cent interest during 2026-27. Under the revised system, a single annual credit limit will replace separate due dates for Kharif and Rabi loans. Farmers borrowing up to Rs 3 lakh and repaying within the stipulated period will continue to receive crop loans at zero interest through interest subsidies provided by the state government.
In another key decision, the Cabinet approved the establishment of a new Government Law College in Shujalpur in Shajapur district from the academic session 2026-27. The government sanctioned 17 posts, including nine teaching and eight non-teaching positions, along with an expenditure of Rs 2.39 crore for the institution.
Additionally, the Council of Ministers approved Rs 3,580.07 crore for transportation and commission reimbursement under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) for the period from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031, covering the tenure of the 16th Central Finance Commission. (ANI)
