Chief Minister Raman Singh on Sunday said that the Annual State Budget is prepared after field visits of villages besides panchayats, choupals and not sitting in the Mantralaya.
The villages and poor farmers are the focus of Government's attention. The welfare priorities are decided during the 'lok Suraaj' missions, he said.
Singh said this on the 19th edition of 'Raman Ke Goth' programme aired from All India Radio (AIR), Raipur Station .
The Chief Minister on the occasion wished the citizens on the auspicious occasion of festival of colours — 'Holi'.
While referring to the International Women's Day which was observed on March 8 this year, Singh said that 'Naari Shakti' (Woman Power) has assumed the proportions of 'Mahashakti'. About 90 per cent of girls are enrolled in Saraswati Cycle Project, Girls' Hostels, Pota cabin, Kasturba schools because of up-gradation of schools and modern facilities. The enrolment of girls in schools is more than the national average of 84 % and is at 9th position in the entire country.
The Chief Minister said that the policies formulated for the villages and farmers had been designed during the Gram Suraaj and lok Suraaj Missions.
He said lok Suraaj campaign is being carried out in three phases this time and it has been converted into 'Samaadhan Parv'.
Singh added that he will make surprise tours of any village or district and meet the citizens, resolve their problems and review the pending issues in the district headquarters. The mission is held during the summer months to observe the difficulties and resolve them as early as possible.
Future projects are also formulated in the agriculture fields of the State. All State Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary, senior officers, MlAs, MPs and people's representatives will tour, observe and prepare master plans for the future, he said.
Singh while referring to the positive and crucial role of women said that Chhattisgarh is the 'Mayaka' (in-laws home) of lord Sri Ram . The daughters of the State carry the lineage of Maa Kaushalya. Maa Danteshwari, Maa Bambleshwari, Maa Chandrahasini, Maa Mahamaya who are presiding deities of the State.
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched the feet of centenarian Kunwar Bai for her vital role in 'Swachh Bharat' abhiyan of Dhamtari. Two Chhattisgarhi women had received the National Awards on the occasion of International Women's Day in New Delhi. Police Constable Miss.
Smita Tandi had received the award ''Rashtriya Naari-Shakti Puraskar' at the hands of President Pranab Mukherjee and Sarpanch Uttara Thaku of Gram Panchayat Cheecha (Patan) district Durg received the award 'Swachh Shakti Puraskar' at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Uttara is a physically handicapped person in spite of that she is active in the 'Swachh Bharat' Mission, the Chief Minister stated.
The Chief Minister said that 'Sakhi-One Stop Centers' had been opened in all the 26 districts to address the problems relating to distressed women.
He added that 100-bed mother-child clinics would be opened at Balod and Kondagaon and 50-bed clinics at Katgora, Gourela, Nagari and Pandaria. An amount of Rs 514 crore had been allocated to Anganwadi centers and Rs 582 crore to the Integrated Child Development Services. Sabla Yojana, Integrated Child Development Project, Chief Minister Amrut Yojana, Mahatari Jatan Yojana and Noni Suraksha Yojana will benefit the women and improve the quality of life .
Singh said that by providing subsidised domestic gas connections to nine lakh women under the Prime minister 'Ujjwala' project the women had been freed from the smoking kitchens.
He mentioned a real life incident which occurred at village Kediyama (Development block — Chura) district Gariyabandh. Housewife Nandini prepared tea on her newly-acquired domestic gas connection in a matter of minutes and offered to him.
Singh while referring to the Information Revolution Project (Sky) said that 45 lakh Smart phones will be distributed to women, villagers and students soon at a cost of Rs 800 crore. About Rs 200 crore had been set apart in the current fiscal.
Twenty-nine per cent citizens have mobile phones in the entire State and 36 per cent people are deprived of any mobile phone and internet facility . Digital Divide should be bridged as soon as possible. It is a challenge to mobile connectivity to the entire State, he said.
The Chief Minister revealed that villagers of Chotedongar, Baasin and other areas in Division Bastar had requested him for Mobile connectivity during his lok Suraaj Mission last year.
He expected them to demand schools, colleges, roads and hospitals but they asked mobile towers in Bastar. It is a symbol of modern and changing times. Information Revolution Project (Sky) will provide Smart phones, installation of mobile towers and building of infrastructure.
About 1500 towers will be installed as a part of the project. 'E-Services' net will be enlarged . The presence of students in schools and colleges will also increase. The beneficiaries will get Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) in due course of time.
Singh said that 'Dial -112' will be a revolutionary step in the right direction in providing emergency medical assistance to accident victims. The policing system will be transparent, response-time will be observed, responsibility will be fixed. 'Dial-112' will be the single emergency number for police, fire brigade and ambulance services.
The assistance time will be ten minutes in the urban areas and 30 minutes in the rural regions. The moment a person dials the number action will begin at the State-level Control room. There will be a network of 240 vehicles and 50 motor-cycles, he said.
The project will be started in Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Kabhirdham, Mahasamund, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Korba and Surguja and Jagdalpur. A provision of Rs 50 crore had been made in the Budget for the purpose.
Chief Minister Raman Singh's 'Raman Ke Goth' programme was specially organized by the Chhattisgarh Radio listeners' Sangh in Raipur. The listeners of Raipur, Rajnandgaon, Rajim, Abhanpur, Batapara and Kawardha regions assembled at the 'choupal' of residence of Radio listeners' Sangh's Patron Ashok Bajaj.
The listeners observed a two-minute silence in remembrance of the 12 CRPF jawans who were martyred at village Injram-Bejji in district Sukma on Saturday. The celebrations of festival of colours and songs were cancelled in memory of the valiant soldiers.
Bajaj said that 'Dial 112' to be launched soon will be a historic step in alleviating the sufferings of accident victims. The social welfare schemes are catering to the needs and aspirations of various cross-sections of the society.