Bhopal: Undeterred as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to citizens to cut overseas travel and stop purchasing gold for a year to save foreign exchange reserves amid the war in West Asia drew scornful jabs from the Opposition, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, on Monday, asked his cabinet colleagues to visit their constituencies and raise public awareness on the message in the larger national interest.
PM Modi's Appeal
Speaking at an event in Karnataka on Sunday, the Prime Minister also urged fellow Indians to cut down on fuel consumption and edible oil intake. He emphasized the need to treat the ongoing energy crisis similarly to how the nation responded during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cabinet Meeting Directive
The Chief Minister’s direction to his ministers to pass on the PM’s message came at a cabinet meeting he chaired on Monday. Briefing reporters after the meeting, the Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Chaitanya Kashyap, said, “All ministers have been asked to raise awareness on the PM’s appeal considering the ongoing global situation, in national interest.”
He further elaborated, “The PM had earlier urged fellow citizens to treat the ongoing (energy) crisis as they did during the Covid pandemic. We should encourage work from home, save petrol, limit overseas travel and avoid purchasing gold for a year, unless it is for weddings. The country imports gold worth over Rs 6 lakh crore every year for making jewellery and limiting its purchase would help our forex reserves in this challenging phase. The ministers would also urge people in their respective constituencies to cut edible oil consumption by 10%.”
Cabinet Approves Major Outlay
Meanwhile, the cabinet also approved an outlay of more than Rs 29,540 crore for infrastructure development, expansion of health services, irrigation facilities, and bank-rolling social security schemes. This significant investment aims to boost the state's growth and ensure the well-being of its citizens.
The Chief Minister’s proactive approach underscores the government's commitment to national interest during global uncertainties. By involving ministers at the grassroots level, the administration hopes to foster a collective effort to strengthen the country's economic resilience.
