Bhopal, Mar 12: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has sought the co-operation of government officers and employees in developing a new work culture in the state. Chouhan said that government's efforts to safeguard the interest of common people could be meaningful and successful only with the co-operation of employees. The Chief Minister was speaking at a reception hosted in his honour by the Madhya Pradesh Adhikari-Karmachari Samyukta Sangharsha Samiti in front of the Rajya Mantralaya here today. The President of the State Unit of the Bhartiya Janata Party, Narendra Singh Tomar, presided over the function.

Chouhan observed that ensuring well being of the citizens of the state is his prime responsibility and these citizens include employees and officers too. Hence, he was committed to fulfil the legitimate demands of employees and officers, he asserted. He said that he is of the firm belief that it was mandatory on the part of the state government that welfare and interests of government staff are taken care of so as to ensure complete participation of personnel in works pertaining to development of the state and welfare of masses as well.

Referring to the role of employees and officers in making Madhya Pradesh a pioneer state of the country, the Chief Minister called upon the employees to rededicate themselves with renewed enthusiasm to achieve this goal. Chouhan said that his doors were always open for a dialogue and no employees union would be required to resort to any kind of agitation.

Narendra Singh Tomar said on the occasion that the state government has proved herself to be employees welfare oriented during the last four years. Almost all the justified demands of the employees have been fulfilled during this period. Tomar expressed the hope that the state government would continue to take care of the interests of the officers/employees.

The President of the Samiti Shiv Singh Tomar expressed gratitude towards the Chief Minister for fulfilling the demands of the employees/officers. The General Secretary Rajendra Singh Bhadoriya delivered the welcome address, praising the Chief Minister for being kind hearted to initiate welfare measures in accordance with the aspirations of seven lakh officers/employees of the state.

At the outset, the office-bearers of the Sangarsha Samiti including Shiv Singh Tomar, Rajendra Singh Bhadoriya and Devi Prasad Sharma felicitated the Chief Minister by presenting him a shawl, coconut and bronze idol of Lord Shiva. The Samiti also honoured Narendra Singh Tomar and presented him shawl, coconut and idol of Goddess Saraswati.

Relax rules for tubewell digging, says Speaker

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, Mar 12: Assembly Speaker Ishwardas Rohani today directed the government to relax the norms to engage all available rigs for digging tubewells in areas facing severe water shortage due to drought. Public Health Engineering Minister Choudhary Chandrabhan agreed to abide by the Speaker's directive during discussion on a call attention notice moved by Om Prakash Khatik.

KP Singh and Virendra Raghuvanshi also joined issue with Khatik in demanding that rules should be relaxed in allowing rig operators to participate in the tendering process. The minister assured that all rig operators would be allowed to register themselves with the department.

Khatik drew the attention of the government towards the severe water crisis in Kolaras area of Shivpuri district.