Education – Shivraj Singh Chouhan Marks Birthday With Student Support Initiatives
Education – Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and current Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan marked his 67th birthday by announcing several welfare initiatives for residents of his Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency. Popularly known as “Mama” among people in the state, Chouhan used the occasion to introduce programs focused on education, healthcare, and social support for vulnerable communities.
The initiatives aim to expand opportunities for students, improve access to medical services in rural areas, and support persons with disabilities across the constituency.
Free Coaching Programme for Competitive Exams
One of the major announcements was the launch of Mama Coaching Classes, a free coaching programme designed to help students prepare for various competitive examinations. The initiative will initially operate in Vidisha, Raisen, and Bherunda.
The coaching centres will assist candidates preparing for exams such as banking recruitment tests, Staff Selection Commission examinations, MPPSC, DRDO recruitment, and forest service examinations. Students enrolled in the programme will receive guidance from experienced teachers along with structured study material and career counselling.
According to Chouhan, the purpose of the programme is to ensure that financial limitations do not prevent young people from pursuing government job opportunities. He said that access to quality preparation resources is often limited in smaller towns and rural areas, and the initiative seeks to address that gap.
Awards Introduced to Recognise Academic Excellence
To encourage academic achievement among school students, Chouhan also introduced a new recognition programme named Prem-Sundar Pratibha Samman.
Under this scheme, meritorious students from Classes 10 and 12 in the Vidisha parliamentary constituency will receive financial awards. Cash prizes will range from Rs 21,000 to Rs 51,000 for top performers.
Additionally, the three highest-scoring students from across the constituency will be honoured with special awards. The initiative is intended to motivate students to focus on their studies and celebrate academic excellence within the region.
Mobile Clinics Planned to Improve Rural Healthcare
Healthcare services in remote areas of the constituency are also set to receive a boost through the introduction of the Mama Mobile Hospital initiative.
Eight mobile medical units will be deployed across the Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency, with one vehicle assigned to each Assembly segment. These mobile clinics will travel to villages and underserved locations to provide free medical consultations, treatment, and basic diagnostic services.
Facilities available in the vans will include tests such as ECGs and blood examinations, allowing patients to receive preliminary medical care without travelling long distances.
Chouhan noted that many residents in interior villages currently have to travel to urban centres even for minor health issues due to limited local medical facilities. The mobile clinics are expected to make healthcare more accessible by bringing services directly to rural communities.
Assistance for Persons With Disabilities
As part of the birthday announcements, Chouhan also declared that motorised tricycles will be provided to Divyang citizens in the Vidisha region.
The move aims to support mobility and independence for persons with disabilities, helping them travel more easily for work, education, and daily activities.
Environment Message Marked Through Tree Plantation
The birthday celebrations were also observed as Prem Aur Seva Sankalp Diwas. Chouhan spent part of the day planting saplings in Bhopal along with members of his family.
Ahead of the occasion, he had appealed to supporters and well-wishers not to mark the day with flowers, garlands, banners, or posters. Instead, he encouraged people to plant trees as a gesture of environmental responsibility.
Many supporters across the region followed the appeal and participated in plantation drives to mark the day.
Funding Through Development Resources and Public Participation
According to Chouhan, the initiatives will be supported through his Member of Parliament Local Area Development Fund along with contributions and cooperation from members of the public.
He emphasised that the objective behind these programmes is to expand opportunities for youth, strengthen healthcare access in rural areas, and ensure that social support reaches those who need it most.