Chief Minister Raman Singh said on Sunday that in democracy, public is the deciding authority and people elect their representatives to address their grievances and understand their necessities and deliver the results.
While addressing his monthly radio talk programme Rs Raman Ke Goth’, aired from Raipur centre of Akashwani, Singh largely focussed on his ongoing Vikas Yatra and reiterated his commitment for development in the state.
He stated, Rs Rs during vikas yatra, the entire process of development including inaugurations, foundation laying and goods distribution is being reviewed. This process has strengthened the confidence of people, which is our major achievement’’.
Singh informed that during ongoing Vikas Yatra that commenced from May 12, grievances of farmers and local people are being addressed, formation of seven new tehsils- Bhatgaon, lavan, Gandai, Rengakhar, Shivrinarayan, Chirmiri and Devkar has been announced on demands of local people. Moreover, formation of Pamgarh and Sarsiva nagar panchayats has also been announced,’’.
Chief Minister further stated, Rs Rs we have decided to give the status of nagar panchayat to gram panchayats with population of more than 10,000. In year 2003, only 76,000 farmers of the state had irrigation pump connections, which has increased to 4.80 lakh till date’’.
He informed that state government has also installed solar irrigation pumps in farms of 36,000 farmers under Saur Sujala Yojana against the target of installing 51,000 solar irrigation pumps by the end of this year.
Chief Minister said, Rs Rs for the electric irrigation pumps, state government bears the expenditure of nearly Rs 2100 crore from its treasure. This is the reason why the amount state government pays to power company against the free or subsidized electricity supply is way more than the total amount of paddy bonus’’.
Singh informed the listeners that during Vikas Yatra, farmers had demanded free/subsidized electricity and certain other facilities, which he decided to sanction immediately. Chief Minister informed people of the state, especially the farmers that this decision will provide benefit of subsidized electricity supply to farmers with more than one irrigation pumps as well, and also to pumps of more than 5 horsepower. Rs Rs In the prevalent set up, free electricity of maximum 7500 units was provided in a year for irrigation, but for this, option of free electricity or flat rate had to be given in the beginning of the year. Now we have decided that farmers will not have to decide for the aforementioned options necessarily at the beginning, as now they have the facility to choose option any time in the middle of year. Chief Minister informed in the programme that farmers can choose option of flat rate after consumption of 7500 unit electricity. He informed- earlier flat rate facility was not available for irrigation pumps of more than 5 horsepower capacity, but now this facility is available. Distribution of new irrigation pump connections has been restarted. In addition, the facility of subsidy up to Rs One lakh has also been started by the government, which was stopped for a while in past.
Singh informed the listeners of 'Raman Ke Goth' that state government employees will get the benefit of 5 percent dearness allowance from July 1, 2017. Till date, employees were getting 4 percent dearness allowance before July 1, 2017. He told the listeners that state government has decided to distributed Rs 700 crore as tendupatta bonus of year 2017.
Chief Minister told the listeners that the most interesting fact about Vikas Yatra is that people are curious to know about SKY scheme. Rs Rs SKY scheme is an initiative to empower common people, especially poor people, youth and women, and one of the biggest initiatives of the world,’’ Singh claimed.
He added lack of communication facilities in the socio-economic and geographical situation of Chhattisgarh is a big hindrance on the path development.
Chief Minister said- state government is distributing 50 lakh mobile phones to those people who cannot purchase one owing to various reasons. These smart phones will prove to be crucial in connecting people to development schemes. 1200 mobile towers will be installed in entire state, which will play important role in expansion of mobile connectivity.