Raipur:
The Chhattisgarh government has announced a ₹1 per liter reduction in petrol prices and an increase in dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees to 53%, aligning it with the central government. Presenting the state budget in the Legislative Assembly, Finance Minister OP Chaudhary revealed a ₹1.65 lakh crore budget—12% higher than the previous year.
This year’s budget follows the ‘GATI’ theme (Governance, Infrastructure, Technology, and Industrial Growth). Notably, Dainik Bhaskar had earlier predicted that the budget would exceed ₹1.60 lakh crore, which has proven accurate.
Key Announcements
Education Sector
- Development of IIM, AIIMS, NIT, IIIT, Plastic Engineering Institute, and National Law University in Raipur.
Connectivity Initiatives
- Launch of ‘Mukhyamantri Mobile Tower Yojana’ to improve telecom connectivity in remote areas.
Security & Law & Order
- Recruitment of 3,200 additional ‘Bastar Fighters’ to combat Naxalism.
- Establishment of new police stations in Naxal-affected villages, including a women’s police station in Sukma.
- Formation of ‘Naveen Bharat Rakhit Vahini’ battalion with a ₹39 crore budget.
Support for Journalists
- ₹1 crore allocated for Raipur Press Club renovation and expansion.
- Journalist honorarium doubled from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 per month.
- ₹1 crore allocated for journalist exposure visits.
- Pravasi Sammelan (Diaspora Conference) to be organized in the state.
Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
- ₹600 crore for ‘Bhoomi Krishi Mazdoor Kalyan Yojana’, providing ₹10,000 annual aid to 5.65 lakh landless laborers.
- ₹3,500 crore for free electricity to agricultural pumps.
- ₹750 crore for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
- ₹80 crore for procurement of pulses and oilseeds at MSP.
- ₹150 crore under ‘Krishak Samagra Vikas Yojana’ for seed production and distribution of millet, pulses, and oilseeds.
- ₹20 crore allocated for organic farming under ‘Paramparagat Krishi Yojana’.
Healthcare Sector
- ₹1,500 crore for health schemes.
- Establishment of sickle cell screening centers in 50 development blocks with an initial fund of ₹1,850 crore.
- Expansion of the Advanced Cardiac Institute at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Hospital, Raipur.
- Modernization of government hospitals, including MRI and CT scan installations.
- Construction of new 100-bed hospitals in Janakpur and Sarona, Raipur.
- ₹13 crore for four yoga and naturopathy centers.
- ₹4 crore for Ayurveda colleges.
- ₹45 crore allocated for a world-class integrated food and drug testing laboratory in central India.
This budget reflects a strong focus on infrastructure, governance, security, healthcare, and agriculture, ensuring inclusive development across Chhattisgarh.
