Raipur, July 11, 2021. In the 19th episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Lokvaani’ that was aired by All India Radio today, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel said that all-round development in every sector of Chhattisgarh is the priority of our government. And the last two and a half years have made this new form of development more evident and visible in the state. State Government is working diligently to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of every Chhattisgarhia. In this way, we are building a “New Chhattisgarh” with the resolution of “Yeh baat hai Abhimaan ki, Chhattisgarhiya Swabhimaan ki”.
Chief Minister was addressing people of the state on the topic “New Era of Development”, in the today’s episode of Lokvaani. He said that right from senior citizens to the new generation, everyone is excited for the development of Chhattisgarh. And we are glad to have the opportunity to meet their expectations and fulfill their dreams. Mr. Baghel said in his address to the Lokvaani that “I would like to start this talk from where our ancestors Dr. Khubchand Baghel, Pandit Sundar Lal Sharma, Barrister Chhedilal, Minimata, Chandulal Chandrakar, Pawan Diwan, Dr. Tuman Lal, Bisahu Das Mahant, Dr. Radha Bai, B.R. Yadav, Thakur Pyare Lal Singh, and many such great leaders, social reformers, politicians, litterateurs and artists had dreamed of a separate Chhattisgarh state and fought for it. In fact, it was not just a demand for a geographical area as a separate state in the map of India, but centuries of agony behind it. It was a demand to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of every Chhattisgarhia. And State Government is committed to realize the dreams and aspirations of people in Chhattisgarh.
Dedicated efforts being made to bring joy and ensure well-being of each and every Chhattisgarhiya
Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel said that when people in the tribal areas of Bastar and Sarguja were not getting the right price for their forest produce, we were heartbroken. When a farmer hangs himself due to debt, our soul cries. When we talk about Chhattisgarhia’s aspirations, we talk about the kind of a development that is beyond the differences of caste, religion, society, class, but respects our traditions and culture as well; the kind of development with a sense of respect for the labor and produce of Chhattisgarhi brothers and sisters. The kind of development that is not confined to shiny construction works, but rather ensures happiness, joy, prosperity and well-being for every Chhattisgarhiya brother and sister.
The path of all-round development and multidimensional progress has been chosen for Chhattisgarh
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that our top priority is to link Narva-Garva-Ghurua-Bari with the all-round development, rural economy and identity of Chhattisgarh. Talking about the basic development of Chhattisgarh and all the efforts made in that direction which kept the economy of Chhattisgarh on track even in times of economic slowdown and catastrophe like Corona, Mr. Baghel said that when there was a silence in the markets of the country and the world, Chhattisgarh was performing well right from the auto-mobile to the bullion market. Our factories and industries continued to operate and Gauthan too contributed in keeping the rural economy on track. There is a long way to go, but we have chosen the path of sustainable development, which cannot be hindered by the whims of time. Our decisions not only provided immediate relief to Chhattisgarh but also opened the way for all-round development with far-reaching significance.
New innovative measures being taken for the development of tribal areas
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that no issue concerning tribals is small for us, and we have given clear instructions to the administration to take new measures for the convenience of common people in tribal areas. In the last two and a half years, various innovations have taken place that are benefitting are largely benefitting people. From Denex textile factory to the role of women self-help in forest produce collection, development of Devgudi to the value addition to local produce, various such significant steps have been taken in tribal areas. Mr. Baghel said that he had made a new guideline for the use of DMF. And as a result, Bastar is setting new milestones on the path of eradicating malnutrition and malaria. Chief Minister Haat-Bazaar Clinics scheme reaches 11 lakh patients, while 5 lakh people get the benefit of initiatives such as Chief Minister Slum Health Scheme and Dai-Didi Mobile Clinic.
Roads worth Rs 16 thousand crores
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that our aim is to make life easier for the people living in rural areas, forest zones, settlements, towns and cities of the state. You will be surprised to know that in the next two years, we are building thousands of roads and culverts at a cost of 16 thousand crores. We have also set various records for efficiently building roads under various schemes, said Chief Minister. About the year 2020-21, Mr Baghel said that in this year, nearly 4 thousand 228 km of roads were built in the state under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’. Similarly, the completion percentage of PMGSY roads stood at 121. Under the ‘Mukhyamantri Gram Gauravpath Yojna’, 261 roads of 94 km were built and likewise, 97 roads of 387 km were built under the ‘Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Vikas Yojana’.
Emphasis on strengthening the health facilities
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that since we came into power two and a half years back, we made improvement in the health facilities of the state, which really helped in dealing with the COVID crisis. Towards the end of year 2018, 1378 doctors were working in government hospitals and at present, total 3538 doctors are working in government health facilities. Likewise, we have increased the number of medical staff from 18 thousand to nearly 22 thousand. When we needed special facilities to fight against corona, we increased the availability of ventilators, ICU beds, HDU beds, oxygen equipped beds, oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders of all kinds, PSA oxygen plants, liquid oxygen tank, multi-monitors by manifolds. We are also opening new medical colleges in Kanker, Korba and Mahasamund, which will increase the number of doctors in the state and people will also be benefitted by their services. In the last two budgets, we have made the significantly increased the allocation for health sector. Besides, Rs 50 crore has been released from the state disaster relief head, Rs 80 crore from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, which has increased the total financial aid the health sector to more than 1 thousand crores.
More than 39 lakh domestic consumers given the benefit worth Rs 1822 crore
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that if electricity is generated from coal of Chhattisgarh, then the general public should share its profit directly. This is the reason why we have implemented Bijli Bill Half Scheme for domestic electricity consumers. Under this scheme, more than 39 lakh consumers of the state have been given the benefits of Rs. 1 thousand 822 crore in the last 27 months. Under this scheme, 400 units of electricity per month is being provided free of cost to every domestic consumer without any discrimination. Besides, free electricity of up to 5 horse power is being provided to about 6 lakh farmers for their irrigation pumps, 30 units of electricity per month is being provided free of cost to 18 lakh families of BPL category. Similarly, for the improvement in the distribution system of electricity, works worth Rs. 1281 crore have been done and Rs. 211 crore has been sanctioned. Many works such as installation of 33 KV substations, transformer and line extension have been done in the state at a cost of Rs. 1400 crore.
With the new industrial policy, investment of Rs 47 thousand crore is expected in the state
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that as a result of the new industrial policy of State Government, investment of Rs.47 thousand crore is expected in the state, which will provide direct employment to more than 67 thousand people and benefit a large number of people indirectly. We have started establishing food parks in every development block. Infrastructure development for food park has already been started in Sukma. In Durg district, we are setting up a large unit for processing forest produce at a cost of 78 crore. We have collaborated with private companies to establish a dozen other such units at different places. To provide direct benefits to tribals and forest dependent families, we have increased the number of forest produce procured on support price from 7 to 52. We have increased the wages and support price of 17 forest produce, due to which more than 13 lakh tribals and forest dependent families are receiving Rs 502 crore every year. Under ‘Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana’, nearly Rs 5700 crore is being paid to the farmers as input aid every year.
By the year 2023, every house in rural areas of the state will have tap connection for clean drinking water supply
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that before December 17, 2018, 43 irrigation projects worth nearly Rs 18 thousand crore were left incomplete. But in just two years, we have completed 138 of these projects, while the work on 405 such projects is in progress. We have also sanctioned 429 new projects worth Rs 1657 crores, after 17th December 2018. In this way, in just two and a half years, we have completed 150 irrigation projects including new and old and have started the work on 822 schemes, which is targeted to be completed in stipulated time. As far as drinking water supply is concerned, we have started a major campaign through ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’, under which pure water will be supplied through tap connection to all the 39 lakh rural households of the state, by the year 2023. Earlier, the target was to supply 40 liters of pure drinking water per person per day, which has now been increased to 55 liters per person per day. In the current financial year, budget of Rs 850 crore has been allocated for this scheme. Mr. Baghel said that Government of India has set a deadline to provide pure water through taps to all rural households under the Jal-Jeevan Mission by year 2024. But we in Chhattisgarh want to complete this work one year before so that it saves the time and labor of people in rural homes early, so that they can pay more attention in work like education, health, employment, said Chief Minister Mr. Baghel in Lokvaani.
Enhancing the quality of education with Swami Atmanand English Medium School Scheme
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that as soon as our Government took the charge, we kept our promise and merged 26 thousand shikshakarmis, providing them all the facilities like regular pay scale, promotion, transfer. Till now, recruitment of 2 thousand 800 lecturers has been completed in the state. The process of selection for teachers and assistant teachers has been completed for more than 10 thousand posts. Scholarship and food assistance to children belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has been increased. For the first time in the country, under the Right to Education Act, children are being provided free education up to class 12th. Arrangements have been made for free education for girls up to graduation and post-graduation. Swami Atmanand English Medium School Scheme has been started to enhance the quality of education in the state. Under this scheme, children are being provided admission in 171 schools. For children who have lost parents to COVID-19, State Government has started ‘Mahatari Dular Yojana’ to provide them free education, scholarship and free coaching along with the admission in government and private schools. As a result of the elaborate arrangements made by State Government for providing employment to people of different classes and educational levels, the unemployment rate in the state has come down from 22 percent to 3 percent in two and a half years. In the programme Lokvaani, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel answered the questions of Chandni Rajwade from Barkhapali in Surajpur district, Mr. Aman Lahare from Mongrapal in Bastar district, Mr. Krishna Kumar Sahu from Madanpur-Kawardha, Mr. Devram from Raigarh district, Mr. Brijmohan Agrawal from Raipur, Sarpanch Sarora Shri Bihari Ram Verma from Raipur, Shimla Meravi from village Katgo, Raipur, Apurva Sharma from Raipur and thanked them for their suggestions.
