The Budget session of Chhattisgarh legislative Assembly commenced on Monday with Governor Balramji Dass Tandon’s address to the House.The Governor wished the members of the House a bright future as this was the first Session in the year 2015. The peaceful conduct of the Assembly, lok Sabha, local Bodies and three-tier Panchayat Raj polls has strenghthened the democratic process, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched many social welfare schemes for the masses. The State Government had accorded top priority to all these schemes. The State Government had spread awareness regarding ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ in the rural areas, Tandon said. The construction of toilets has been speeded up. The target is to construct 2.68 lakh toilets in the current year. ‘MlA Model Village Scheme’ has been launched on the pattern of ‘Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana’, he said.
The Governor said 99 per cent of the masses have been covered under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Jan Dhan’ Yojana. Except the Naxal-affected districts like Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada and Kanker districts all others have attained cent per cent targets, the Governor said. Earlier there were 16 lakh families’ bank accounts but now 40 lakh families bank accounts have been opened during the past five months. ‘Skill Development Initiative Scheme’ is motivating the youth in the entire State. ‘Digital India’ scheme will help the State in many ways, he said.
Tandon said that the State has achieved spectacular progress in agriculture and bagged ‘Krishi Karman’ Awards many a times. The farmers were given several incentives to grow wheat, paddy and ‘Raagi’. Organic Farming Mission is being taken up in a major way. Interest-free loans to farmers had been distributed to the farmers. About Rs2600 cr had been distributed to 10 lakh farmers as loans in the entire State, Tandon said.
Chhattisgarh State is the sixth in the entire country in Pisciculture and fish seed production. About 20 veterinary hospitals have been opened in the State, he said. The State is opening ‘Ironman Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Co-operative Sugar Factory’ at Pandaria in Kabhirdham district. The sugarcane farmers will get good remunerative prices. Seventeen Tehsil Bhawans are being constructed. About Rs68 crore loans were distributed to 6800 women self-help groups under the ‘National Rural livelihood Mission’, Tandon said.
About 80,000 families were provided with 150 days of employment in a year in the entire State. About 10.67 lakh labourers are being registered by the lIC under the ‘Atal Khetihar Majdoor Bhima Yojana’, he said. About 23,000 kilometres long 5300 roads had been laid to connect 7800 habitations. About Rs575 crore road works had been sanctioned in Naxal-affected 29 Development Blocks, Tandon said.
About 150 bridges are under various stages of construction and 19 have been completed. The State has taken-up ‘Har Ghar Souchalaya-Har Ghar Nal’ on a mission mode to help the poor in cities and towns. Employment-oriented skills will be imparted to the youth in 141 local bodies under ‘ Chief Minister Urban livelihood Mission’. The public transport system will be upgraded with the introduction of 451 city buses, the Governor said.
The State had conducted student polls in the Government colleges and universities. The authorities are creating global standard infrastructure facilities for sports in the entire State. The Government is concentrating on developing the basic facilities in forest areas, he said. About Rs171 crore was distributed as wages and Rs105 crore as bonus to the collectors of Tendu patta. The drinking water facilities have been developed in a major way in the rural areas of the State. About 73,000 habitats have been provided with at least one source of drinking water in the area.
There was heavy recruitment in the State Government sector to provide services at the village-level and to make the administration responsive. The State Administrative Services Commission has sanctioned 42 new Deputy Collectors’ posts. Mobile Apps will provide services to the general public, he said.
Tandon said that the Government is concentrating on arts, culture, archaelogy and preserving them. The top tourist spots have been developed and the State is being benefitted from it. Chhattisgarh is among top ten States in the country in receiving the domestic tourists. Annual festivals are celebrated at Tatapaani and Mainpaat. The irrigation capacity was increased by 10 per cent during the past 10 years.
A lot of employment opportunities will be created with rapid industrialisation and economic development. The State has launched Skills’ Development project on a war-footing. Chhattisgarh is the first State to make a law for Skills’ training, he said.
livelihood Colleges have been started in all the districts in consultation with private sector and its requirements. The youth will get better training and job opportunities. Apart from I.I.T. and I.I.I.T, polytechnic colleges will be opened in Kondagaon and Surajpur this year, Tandon said. The Governor said that the State is being developed as a Solar State. It has bagged many awards in the production, distribution and consumer services. The 95 Development blocks which are deficient in power are provided with solar task lamps.
The students are provided with solar lamps. Electricity is given to farmers free of cost or at a minimal rate under the ‘Krishak Jeewan Jyoti Yojana’. There is a marked improvement in production of crops. The Government has created atmosphere of farmers becoming self-sufficient, he said. Tandon said it has been decided to computerise the Public Distribution System operated ration shops. The real consumers will be identified with bank account numbers and Aadhar cards. There plans to improve the services in Adivasi-dominated areas. The nursing facility is provided through placement agencies. Chhattisgarh State is on top of the list in providing nutritious diet through the Women’s self-help groups under Anganwadis’ umbrella, Tandon said.
The minor girls are fed with cent per cent nutritious diet. ‘Child line Seva-1098’ will be extended to seven more districts to help children, he said. The Governor said that jobs are reserved for disabled in various State Government departments to make them independent and confident. A college and a rehabilitation centre for disabled will be opened for the disabled at Rajnandgaon soon. A ‘’Third Gender Welfare Board’ will be established for the welfare of the neglected sections. Transparency has been introduced in the transport department. Online services are provided for permits, fitness applications, tax payments, various types of licences, he said.
The Governor said our strength is rich mineral resources. The authorities are updating and mapping the data of mines at regular intervals. E-Geological Modelling, Online application and returns, Bar-coded E-Transit pass, E-Registration and other facilities are provided. ‘Digital Mineral Foundation’ will be established soon in the State. New mines are located to enhance the revenues.
Tandon said stress is laid upon developing Smart Cities by implementing ‘City Development Scheme’. Naya Raipur pattern of development is appreciated in the entire country. Radical changes are brought in the education system to help the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward sections of the society. About 17 kilometres Railway line has already been laid at Dallirajhara-Rowghat project. Two food-parks are in the pipeline in Chhattisgarh. A lot of incentives are given to handloom weavers, silk, mud crafts, Bell Metal crafts to make them more profitable, he said.
The Governor said it is the bounden duty of the Government to see public get justice in a time-bound manner. About 28 new courts were established in the State for quick justice to the masses. About 21 Fast Track courts were established for cases related to women and children. Five Special Courts were established exclusively dealing with cases related to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes. Stress is also laid on social media. ‘Chhattisgarh Public Relations Mobile App’ is popular and helpful to the masses. ‘Raipur Sahitya Mahotsav’ has gained the reputation of top ‘Hindi Sahitya Mahotsav’.
Tandon said the State is making efforts to maintain the law and order by increasing the police force, upgrading police stations with modern facilities. Toll-free number 1091 was started for women. Mahila police stations were started in four districts and mahila desks were established at all the police stations. Public participation is crucial for the progress of the State. New strategies are devised to curb Naxalites’ menace. There is an increase in the number of surrenders of Naxalites. Chhatisgarh is racing on the path of development and there will be prosperity for everybody, he said.