The Chhattisgarh Government has gone for a massive expansion in an entire gamut of projects particularly in the Agricultural sector domain, officials stated.
The key emphasis apart from augmenting crop output had been opening of Agriculture colleges across the State, they said.In year 2003-04, there were only 20 Agricultural related institutes in the State for agriculture education. But in year 2013-14, the number of agriculture education institutes has increased to 31. In this duration, the number government agriculture colleges have also increased from 4 to 12 at present. Moreover, two new government horticulture colleges have also been established in the State.
The Government opened new Agriculture Science Centers in Bijapur and Narayanpur districts (formed in year 2007) and also in Gariaband and Balrampur-Ramanujganj districts (formed in 2012). Nearly one-third population in the State is of Scheduled Tribe that mostly resides in remote forest areas. Keeping this in view, the Chief Minister has announced implementation of seed subsidy scheme for such areas in year 2014-15, in order to expand the area of traditionally cultivated crops of Kodo, Kutki and Ragi crops. Area of horticulture crops in the State has increased by eight times.
The State government has also brought Agriculture Engineering and several other subjects under its low interest educational loan scheme. Interestingly last year, the State government had provided a total loan of more than Rs 17 crore to about 900 youths for their higher studies.
The Technical Education Directorate had issued directives to the principals and directors of all the engineering colleges, pharmacy, management, MCA, and diploma colleges in this regard.
In the circular the Higher Education Department has said that the colleges and educational institutions should hold loan disbursal camps in coordination with the banks. Besides, they should also coordinate with the banks for the implementation of the loan scheme the way they had done last year.
In such camps, applications from the students taking first year admission should be received. A department official said the student whose family annual income is less than Rs 2 lakh could avail the loan.
If the student pays back the loan on time in regular installments after moratorium, he will be charged only one per cent interest rate. Remaining interest, the State government will pay by transferring it to the bank directly.