The State Cabinet, which met at Jabalpur today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav decided to institute an award in honnour of Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi and Rani Durgavati for female social workers who struggled and succeeded despite adverse circumstances. Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi Samman and Rani Durgavati Samman will be given every year. A fellowship will be introduced to encourage those who study the lives and heroic works of brave queens. A film will be made to introduce to the future generation the life and works of Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi and Rani Durgavati. Besides, lessons based on their inspirational stories of bravery will be included in the curriculum of universities, colleges and schools.

The Cabinet decided to implement Rani Durgavati ShriAnna Protsahan Yojana to promote the cultivation of millets. Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 10 per kg will be provided to the farmers producing grains like Kodo-Kutki, Ragi, Jowar, Bajra etc. This amount will be transferred directly to the farmers' accounts.

Kodo-Kutki is cultivated in Mandla, Dindori, Balaghat, Chhindwara, Anuppur, Sidhi, Singrauli, Umaria, Shahdol, Seoni and Betul districts. Rani Durgavati Shri Anna Protsahan Yojana will be implemented with an aim of developing a value-chain along with crop production, storage, processing, marketing, procurement, brand building to increase the income of farmers of Kodo-Kutki.

It is noteworthy that a millet cultivation revolution has been sprearheaded in the country by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. On his initiative the year 2023 was declared the International Year of Millet.

The Cabinet also decided to increase the tendu leaf collection rate. The rate of tendu leaf collection has been increased from Rs 3 thousand to Rs 4 thousand per standard bag. With this decision, 35 lakh tendu leaf collectors will get additional remuneration of about Rs 165 crore.

It is noteworthy that in previous years, the tendu leaf collection rate was Rs 1,250 per bag. From the year 2022, it was increased to Rs 3 thousand per bag. Now tendu leaf collection rate has been increased to Rs 4 thousand per bag.

In order to promote sales in automobile sector, the Cabinet decided to give 50% discount on the rate of motor vehicle tax under the rules on the sale of motor cycles, motor cars and light vehicles. This decision will facilitate trade, tourism and industrial activities in the Gwalior Trade Fair.

It is noteworthy that Gwalior Trade Fair is one of the largest and famous trade fairs of Madhya Pradesh. This fair has gained national and international repute. Lakhs of people from Gwalior Chambal region and surrounding states visit Gwalior Trade Fair.

The Cabinet has given permission for the construction of irrigation projects worth Rs 32 thousand crores with a view to maximise irrigation facilities and to increase the area under irrigation.

The Cabinet approved new road construction works worth Rs 4 thousand 500 crore. This is a major step towards the infrastructure development.