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BHOPAL: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the Institute of Mental Health and Research in Sehore and a sports complex being built for the physically challenged in Gwalior are big gifts of the Centre to the state.

The state government is ready to promote welfare of the physically challenged, Chouhan said, adding that nearly 600,000 people have been given identity cards.

The Central Government has helped the state in this regard, he said.

Chouhan and Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot were addressing the officials at Mantralay.

It was informed at the meeting that the Union government is constructing an Institute of Mental Health and Research in Sehore at a cost of Rs 179.20 crore.

For the project, the state government has provided 25 acres. The work will complete June next year.

A certificate course will be held in the institute. Besides that, the state government has provided 34 acres for a sports complex being built in Gwalior at a cost of Rs 170 crore.

Chouhan said that 33.43 lakh people are being benefited under Indira Gandhi National Old Age and Widow Pension Scheme.

The state government is providing help to 11.38 lakh beneficiaries, he said.

Chouhan further said that 11.38 people are getting benefits from the Central Government.

Besides Chouhan, minister Prem Singh Patel, chief secretary Iqbal Singh Bains and other officials were present at the meeting.

Speculations over removal from ministry

There are speculations that Thawar Chand Gehlot may be removed from the Union Ministry. According to reports, the Centre is mulling over sending Gehlot to a state as its Governor. During his meeting with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Gehlot discussed the political situation in the state.