Raipur, December 15, 2021. The second supplementary budget of Rs 2108 crore 62 lakh 84 thousand 389 presented by the Chhattisgarh government in the State Legislative Assembly was passed by a voice vote today.
Besides, Goods and Services Tax Amendment Bill, Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwvidyalaya Amendment Bill, Chhattisgarh State Backward Classes Commission Amendment Bill, Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill was also passed by voice vote today in the state legislative assembly.
Responding to the discussion on supplementary budget, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel said that the Central Government is deducting the amount of central grants to the states for the operation of national programmes while the centre is not releasing an amount of about Rs 20 thousand crores still due for Chhattisgarh state. The deduction of Central Excise has been increased from 32 per cent to 42 per cent by the Central Government; however, Chhattisgarh is still not getting its amount. Besides, the amount of coal compensation of about Rs 4 thousand crores is still due.
Lashing out at the centre for complaining about the state government for not implementing central schemes, Mr. Baghel said “On one hand the centre is not releasing the pending dues for Chhattisgarh state and on the other hand the state government is blamed for not implementing central schemes.”
He added that till the year 2014, the fund sharing ratio of centre and state was 85:15 respectively in the National Horticulture Mission, which has now been revised to 60:40. The fund sharing pattern of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana has been revised to 60 per cent central share and 40 per cent state share, which was earlier 100 per cent centrally sponsored scheme. Similarly, under MGNREGA the ratio is now 75:25 which was earlier 90:10 and the ratio of 75:25 under Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana has been revised to 60:40. The ratio of 70:30 under Rajiv Awas Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and mid-day meal scheme has been changed to 60:40, similarly in Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan; the ratio of 75:25 has been revised to 60:40, in ICDS the ratio of 85:15 is now revised to 60:40.
“The economic burden on states has been increased with the central government reducing the central grants in the national programmes and now the states are being alleged for not implementing schemes properly. We are told that the situation has changed after corona pandemic when we try to have a discussion over getting central grants for operation of central schemes in the state”, Chief Minister said.
He added that the situation of pandemic was similar for both central and state governments. The centre should first give its share, after that the states will give the state share. The central government is also creating hurdles in the paddy procurement on support price. It was said that if Chhattisgarh gave even one rupee bonus on paddy, then rice would not be purchased in the central pool. Now a new hurdle has been created by centre by not giving permission to procure parboiled (USNA) rice from Chhattisgarh.
He said that the state government is incurring a loss of at least Rs 800 crore due to the reduction in excise duty by the Central Government instead of reducing the cess on petrol and diesel. Despite this, we have kept our words with the prices of petrol and diesel under control in Chhattisgarh. Petrol and diesel are available here at a lower rate than in the neighboring states.
Speaking about ‘Ready to Eat’ system, the Chief Minister said that the previous government had entrusted the responsibility of manufacturing and supplying ready to eat packets to 1627 self-help groups in the year 2009. Presently the contract of 943 associated groups has expired after 5 years and only 678 groups were left. Besides, Out of 1400 samples out of 1900 samples were found unfit as per the criteria of ready to eat scheme. It has been stated in a UNICEF report that the members of groups under ready to eat scheme contract were indulged in labor work while the manufacturing unit was being operated by another person.
He added that under the previous government regime, the rate of malnutrition was 26 per cent because the quality of nutritional food was not up to the mark. After the formation of our government, the rate of malnutrition has reduced to 19 per cent after the successful implementation Chief Minister’s Nutrition Scheme (Mukhyamantri Suposhan Yojana).
Mentioning that the Supreme Court has directed to manufacture of ‘ready to eat’ food with automatic machines to ensure high quality and proper hygiene, Mr. Baghel said that the previous government did not pay much attention to the quality and hygiene in the manufacture of ‘ready to eat’ food. “Why did the previous government not follow the directions of the Supreme Court?”, questioned Chief Minister.
He added that in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, ‘ready to eat’ food prepared by automatic machines are being distributed then why the opposition is opposing the implementation of same in Chhattisgarh.
Responding to the discussion on the supplementary budget, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that a provision of Rs 599 crore for preparations to deal with the possible third wave of Covid-19 has been made in the second supplementary budget, Rs 150 crore for water augmentation schemes in 42 urban bodies, Rs 304 crore for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (urban), Rs 5 crore for the formation of new committees and Rs 5 crore for Guru Ghasidas Shodhpeeth and museum in Nava Raipur. Besides, in this budget, a provision has also been made for the creation of four new districts and 16 new tehsils.
