Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday presided over the Cabinet meeting which approved the Gramodyog Policy 2016-2021. The target is to provide about seven lakh jobs in the Gramodyog and its allied sectors.
While briefing people about the key decisions of the cabinet, Raman Singh said that Cabinet had decided to waive Vehicle Tax on 660 Combined Harvester vehicles in the entire State.
“There is a lot of demand for this kind of vehicles. About 150 harvester vehicles are being purchased every year in the State. This step will boost the agriculture sector and modernise the farming operations. The step will upgrade the sector and increase food grains production. About Rs 2,900 Vehicle Tax is charged every three months on this vehicle’’, Singh told newsmen.
Singh stated that Cabinet put the stamp of approval on the Gramodyog Policy 2016-2021. The target is to provide about seven lakh jobs in the Gramodyog and its allied sectors. Employment will be generated to the economically weaker sections and women artisans and craftsmen during the next five years.
About 1.15 lakh personnel are employed in Khadi and Gramodyog sectors’ 35,000 units. The target is to provide two lakh jobs in 50,000 units. Silk textiles worth Rs 60 crore is exported every year and the aim is to touch Rs 100 crore.
One lakh citizens are employed in the silk apparel industry as of now. The target is to provide employment to 3 lakh personnel. At present 350 metric tonne Kosha thread is manufactured every year
which will be increased to 1,200 metric tonne soon. Twenty thousand in the handicrafts industry and it will be increased to 70,000.
Chief Minister added that 12,000 people are employed in the clay craft industry. The new Gramodyog Policy will provide employment to 20,000 artisans. He added that to improve design, basic quality national-level institutes —
NIFT, Textile Committee, NID, and other Institutes will be established. Craftsmen and artisans above 60 years of age will be provided with financial assistance. The children of traditional artisans are provided with financial assistance for higher education in Crafts Design. Singh said that 11,000 solar pumps will be installed to encourage irrigation and energy sectors. Certain policy corrections were taken in the Krushak Jyoti Yojana and Electrification of Pumps Yojana which will entail an additional expenditure of Rs 425 crore. Centre will contribute Rs 132 crore and the rest by the State Government. The plan is to provide 11,000 solar pumps under the Krushak Jyoti Yojana. Solar pumps will be provided to the farmers at minimum price in the state. Three HP solar pumps will be given at Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at a nominal rate of Rs 7,000 and five HP solar pumps at Rs 10,000 to the depressed classes. Three HP solar pumps will be given at Rs 18,000 and five HP solar pumps at Rs 20,000 to the General Category customers.
Chief Minister informed that farmers near the canals will get better irrigation facilities through the medium of solar pumps.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appreciated the efforts of Chhattisgarh in this direction.