Raipur, 11 March 2022. Replying to the general discussion on the income-expenditure for the financial year 2022-23 in the Vidhan Sabha today, Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel said that it is the endeavor of the state government that the benefits of the budget should reach all sections. There was a change in the standard of living of the poor. Everyone should get good opportunities for education, health and employment. Money should go directly into the pockets of the poor, tribals and common people and their lives should be changed. He said that every section has been taken care of in the budget. People are being given ration, electricity, free electricity to farmers, farmers are being given assistance through Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana and landless agricultural laborers through Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhumiless Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana. The old pension scheme has been implemented, securing the future of lakhs of officers and employees.
The Chief Minister said that if we have to take loans in the interest of farmers and laborers of Chhattisgarh, we will take them, we will not cheat them. He said that the state government has fulfilled the promise made to the farmers. The farmers were promised Rs 2500 quintal of paddy. Constantly tried to stop it. But we said that it will not be less than a single rupee. We kept our promise.
Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel said that the members of our House did not interrupt even once during the entire budget in the House, this is the success of this budget. He said that the previous government had made such a thin road of poor quality that it got uprooted in three years. At that time Chhattisgarh was known as Naxalgarh, but today there has been a decrease in Naxal incidents.
The Chief Minister told the opposition that you did not give bonus and now we are told that give bonus. Earlier, the share of the center in central schemes was 90 percent. Later it has become 60 percent and at present the share of the state and the center has increased to 50-50 percent. The Chief Minister said that we waived the loans of the farmers, bought paddy for 25 hundred, today farmers are building houses of their choice. Referring to the data of the Central Government, he said that the roads of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana constructed in Chhattisgarh in the last three years were tested through National Quality Checkers, in which 99.75 percent work was found satisfactory. Chhattisgarh ranks first in the country with 85 percent achievement in road construction. For this, the Government of India gave an award of Rs 221 crore to Chhattisgarh. He said that in the year 2020-21, a tender for repair of 6000 km of roads has been issued.
The Chief Minister said that the Central Government is giving less share in grants and central taxes to Chhattisgarh. While we are continuously increasing the revenue of the state. This is the first time that the Central Tax Grant and the revenue of Chhattisgarh are equal. The revenue of Chhattisgarh is 44 thousand 500 crore rupees and the central tax grant is also 44 thousand 500 crore rupees. Regarding GSDP, he said that in the year 2021-22, Chhattisgarh’s GSDP was 11.54 while that of the center was 9.2 percent. In the year 2020-21, when Corona was at its peak, the center’s GSDP minus was 7.7. At that time in Chhattisgarh it was successful in stopping it in 1.7. Chhattisgarh has taken less loan than Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Karnataka.
The Chief Minister said that in the last 15 years of the previous government, 4 medical colleges were started. In our three years, Korba, Kanker, Mahasamund Medical College got approval and private medical college of Durg was acquired. Malnutrition has come down in the state. We are giving 35 kg of rice per family to BPL and APL families. The state government is giving ration to 68 lakh card holders. Every section has been taken care of in this budget. The state government is giving jobs, so our establishment expenditure has increased.
Referring to the Godhan Nyay Yojana, the Chief Minister said that due to this scheme, people’s interest towards animal husbandry and dairy business has increased, the farm is being protected. The Prime Minister has also talked about implementing the innovation from cow dung done in Chhattisgarh in the entire country. The Central Government and the Lok Sabha team are coming to study this scheme of Chhattisgarh. Referring to Swami Atmanand English Medium School, he said that this year 32 Swami Atmanand Schools of Hindi medium would be started. It will be our endeavor that at least one such school should be started in every district. He said that health facilities in Bastar and Surguja have improved in the last three years. Arrangements have been made for medical equipment and facilities including specialist doctors there.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government has worked to stop illegal smuggling of liquor and ganja. He said that 44 percent of the land in Chhattisgarh is forested. Our endeavor is to bring a change in the lives of the people living in the forests. Forest rights pattas have been distributed in these areas. At the same time, even during the Corona period, small forest products have been purchased. Chhattisgarh is the only state where Kodo-Kutki and Ragi are being purchased at support price. Lac rearing and pisciculture have been given the status of agriculture. Our effort is to increase the income of the people, bring about a change in their standard of living, eliminate malnutrition and provide employment to the people. He said that during the previous government housing schemes like Kamal Vihar were started, a new capital was built, but people are not settling there. You took loan for these schemes which we are refining.
