The Chhattisgarh Government has commenced the ‘State Budget 2017-18’ preparation exercise.
Chief Minister Raman Singh on Wednesday presided over the meeting of the Budget proposals of the labour Department and Youth and Sports Welfare Department at Mantralaya.
In separate meetings held the same day, the Chief Minister also reviewed the budget preparation exercise of the State Education and Home Departments.
It may be recalled that while presenting his 10th Annual State Budget in March last year, Singh had clearly spelt out his seven-fold strategy for the all-round development of Chhattisgarh.
With an outlay of Rs70,059 crore, the Budget’s core focus was on infrastructure, social sectors and agriculture.
The seven pillars on which the Chief Minister built his strategy were — Farmers, Inclusive Development, Communications, Health, Security, Self-reliance and capacity-building.
Notably, capital expenditure for infrastructure saw a significant jump of 18.5 per cent in the Budget compared to last year, raising its share in the Budget from an already high 16.9 per cent last year to 18.6 per cent this year.
Social sector expenditure has increased by over 16 per cent, with its share in the Budget increasing from 37 per cent to 40 per cent. Agriculture Department’s budget has increased by 26 per cent.
Singh had described the ‘State Budget 2016-17’ as a document which will fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the masses.
It is a foundation of blueprint for the coming three years which will pave way for the rapid development of Chhattisgarh, he had stated while replying to a general discussion on the floor of the Chhattisgarh Assembly.
The Budget is not just facts and figures, but it represents the aspirations of two-and-a-half-crore citizens of the State, he had stated.
The document will implement the promises made to the citizens. Efforts will be made to rise to the expectations of the people. Stress is laid on agriculture, infrastructure, education and health services, Singh had stated adding fiscal prudence is evident in the Budget.
He had stated that Budget will benefit eight lakh beneficiary families of the Food and Nutritional Security Act, 42 lakh families of the State Health Insurance Scheme, 12 lakh farmers’ families who took interest-free loans, four lakh farmers who are provided free electricity to irrigation pumps, 11 lakh farmers who sell paddy on Minimum Support Price and 42 lakh school children who benefit from Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
Singh had stated that Health Insurance scheme amount had been hiked to Rs50,000 from the earlier Rs30,000.
Notably, in the context of the Budget being prepared for Youth and Sports Welfare Department, the Chhattisgarh Government last year had commenced initial preparations for holding the 37th National Games to be hosted in the State scheduled in 2019. This year’s annual budget (2017-18) may have a significant component of funds required to build infrastructure for the event.
The Government is getting a detailed project report (DPR) prepared from consultants who have experience of preparing DPRs of national games, Asiad or Commowealth Games before starting work for building necessary infrastructure required for conducting the games, official sources informed.
Notably, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in December in 2015 had submitted a detailed report pertaining to preparations already underway for the proposed 37th National Games to be held in Chhattisgarh to Chief Minister Raman Singh in New Delhi.
As per the official information, the report submitted to the Chief Minister was based on information compiled by a committee of the Association which had conducted inspection of stadiums in Chhattisgarh. The report was submitted to the Chief Minister by General Secretary of the Association Rajeev Mehta in New Delhi.
Highlighting the requirements for smooth execution of national games, Mehta said that wide and spacious indoor stadiums will be required for hosting games like handball, basketball, table tennis, badminton and other indoor games.
Chief Minister Raman Singh on September 22 2015 had chaired a meeting of executive committee of Chhattisgarh Olympic Association in Raipur.
Several important decisions regarding development of sports in the State and also about the arrangements to be made for forthcoming 37th National Games to be held in Chhattisgarh. The Chief Minister said that strict compliance to quality standards should be ensured while developing sports infrastructure.
Singh said in the meeting that sports talents of the State, who have won medals for Chhattisgarh during the past or who have missed winning the medal with narrow margin, should be groomed into becoming international-level sports persons. Such sports should also be identified, and related sports persons should be provided best possible sports and training facilities, he said. The Chief Minister said that Bastar Division is blessed with great talents in athletics as well as other sports. These talented youngsters can be trained for national and
international-level sports tournaments.
Singh insisted that industries should extend support for development of sports infrastructure in Bastar.
While reviewing the preparations for 37th National Games, the Chief Minister had stated that Chhattisgarh Olympic Association should coordinate with other sports associations and chalk out action plan for expediting the preparations for National Games.
He added that as various competitions under National Games will be organised in Raipur, Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon and Durg-Bhilai, proper accommodation and training arrangements for sports persons should be made in these cities.The Chief Minister gave this information during his meeting with IOA delegation organised at his residential office in Raipur.
The IOA delegation was on a tour of Chhattisgarh for inspection of ongoing arrangement in Chhattisgarh for 37th National Games. Singh had assured the delegation that Chhattisgarh is ready to host 37th National Games.
He said that there will be no lack of funds, as State Government will seek support from private industrial units and public undertakings for organising the event. The Chief Minister said that along with Raipur, a number of sports facilities have been developed in Durg-Bhilai, Rajnandgaon and Bilaspur.