Bhopal, Mar 11: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while making a number of announcements today at Katni said that women would have 50 per cent representation in local bodies. The present government has made several special provisions so as to ensure the participation of women in decision-making process, he added.

Referring to the International Women's Day, the Chief Minister said that the State Government would now concentrate on its efforts towards women empowerment by observing the women's day everyday.

Referring to the steps taken by the government in the larger interests of farmers, Chouhan said that the government was committed to make agriculture a profitable occupation. To achieve this objective, interest rates on agricultural loans have been reduced and the rates of compensation on damage to the crops in the event of natural calamities have been enhanced substantially.

Chouhan pointed out that the Centre has announced the support price of Rs 1000 per quintal for wheat but the State Government has decided to provide a bonus of Rs 100 per quintal so as to ensure reasonable prices to farmers for their produce.

At another programme at forester playground, the Chief Minister said that the government had deposited electricity bills amounting to Rs 1783 crore on behalf of the farmers. Also, the penalty has been waived off.

The Chief Minister informed that the poor people would be made available wheat at the rate of Rs 3 per kg and rice Rs 4.50 per kg through the fair price shops from April 6. He also distributed national savings certificates to seven girls under the Ladli Laxmi Yojana. Chouhan handed over a cheque for Rs two lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund and another cheque for Rs 1.50 lakh from the State Sickness Assistance Fund to Surendra Rajput for treatment of her eight-year old daughter Baby Juni Rajput. Chouhan also distributed Kisan Credit Cards to five farmers.

On this occasion, Health and Family Welfare Minister and Minister in Charge of the district Ajay Vishnoi; Members of Parliament Rakesh Singh and Ganesh Singh; local MLA Ms Alka Jain; MLA Dhruv Pratap Singh; District Panchayat President Jeevanlal Gontiya and Mayor Sandeep Jaiswal were also present.