nChhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Thursday that the government is ready to take more loans if needed but will not allow farmers to suffer.
The yardstick of development for the government is uplift of farmers, tribes and women, not roads and buildings, he said while replying to a discussion on the First Supplementary Budget for fiscal 2020-21 which was passed by voice vote on the third day of the Monsoon session.
With the passing of the supplementary budget of Rs 3,807.46 crores, the total state budget size has risen to Rs 1,06,714 crores.
Of the supplementary budget, Rs 978 crores have been allocated for Covid-19 pandemic and Rs 1,900 crores for rural economy, natural calamity relief and providing drinking water.
A provision of Rs 53.29 crores has been made for the establishment of new Medical Colleges at Kanker, Mahasamund and Korba districts.
He said that in 2003 the state exchequer had Rs 400 crores. But after 15 years, the state's loan burden had ballooned to of Rs 41,000 crores.
In 2003, the Below Poverty Line family in the state was 19 percent. This rose to 39 percent after 15 years. A total of 37.5 percent of children faced malnutrition and 41 percent women were anemic.
Under the Congress government, within eight months, the number of children facing malnutrition was reduced by 13 percent.
The Chief Minister listed out the various welfare schemes initiated by his government to assist the poor and boost the rural economy.