Raipur. The policy makers of Chhattisgarh have to pay special attention to two factors, one is the tribal-dominated population here and the other is the agriculture-based economy here. While deciding the policies of the state, both of these cannot be ignored, both have to be given equal importance.
As soon as the double engine government was formed in Chhattisgarh, the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai has started working with the resolution of developed India and developed Chhattisgarh. This state with a population of about three crore is contributing to the creation of a self-reliant and developed India. As soon as the Sai government took over the reins of Chhattisgarh, it has paid attention from the very beginning to both the tribal community and the farmer, the two major factors that determine the direction of the state’s development. The Sai government, which came to the state with the promise of clean and transparent administration to the people, has started adopting IT and AI based systems with full commitment.
The Krishak Unnati Yojana in the state has become a new support for farming. Due to this, agriculture has become prosperous and farmers have become prosperous. Farming in the state has got new energy. Advanced farming is being promoted in the state. The effect of the farmer-friendly crops of the state government is now clearly visible in farming. The use of advanced agricultural equipment has increased in farming. In the last Kharif marketing year, 145 lakh metric tonnes of paddy has been purchased from farmers at the support price, for which 32 thousand crore rupees have been paid. In accordance with its resolution, the Chhattisgarh government paid Rs 3716 crore as bonus amount for two years of paddy to the farmers of the state. Under the Krishak Unnati Yojana, Rs 13 thousand 320 crore has been paid to the farmers as the difference in the price of paddy. In this way, a total of 49 thousand crore rupees were transferred directly to the bank accounts of the farmers.
Paddy procurement from farmers in Chhattisgarh has been challenging from the beginning. The government of Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai is going to purchase paddy from November 14 at the support price. All preparations are being made in the paddy procurement centers as per the guidelines of the Chhattisgarh government. This year, due to better rainfall and favorable weather, abundant production of paddy is expected in the state. In view of this, 160 lakh metric tonnes of paddy procurement is estimated in the state at the support price. Paddy will be purchased from farmers in the state till 31 January 2025.
In the current Kharif season, short-term loans of Rs 6500 crore have been given to the farmers of the state without interest for farming. More and more farmers are being provided the facility of Kisan Credit Card. The farmers here will now be able to get the maximum price of their produce through the e-NAM portal (Agriculture Market). Taking an important decision in the interest of the farmers, the Chhattisgarh government has amended the Chhattisgarh Agricultural Produce Market Act. Under this, single registration or licensed traders and processors of Mandi Board or Committee of other states will be able to buy their produce from the farmers of the state, this will benefit the producing farmers. Farmers will not need to register themselves.
Strict steps have been taken to end Maoist terror in Bastar and other parts of the state. The central and state governments are in mutual coordination in this. Maoist terror has also now been confined to only a few areas. Here, people are regaining their faith in the government due to innovative schemes like Niyad Nellnar.
In the areas affected by Maoist terror, people are being provided with basic amenities as well as the benefits of government schemes of the central and state governments in the area around the security camps. In the districts affected by Maoist terror, youth are being given the facility of interest-free loans for studying technical vocational courses. This initiative will give the youth of the tribal community an opportunity to move forward.
The government is paying special attention to the collection and processing of forest produce to increase the income of forest dwellers. Minor forest produce is being purchased at the support price. These minor forest produce are also being processed at Vandhan Kendras. The remuneration for tendu leaves for forest dwellers has also been increased to Rs 5500 per standard sack. For women empowerment, under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, an amount of Rs 1000 each is being transferred directly to the bank accounts of 70 lakh women every month. So far, nine installments have been released.
New education policy has also been implemented in the state. New curriculum is being prepared in the state to educate children in their mother tongue. 75 Eklavya Adarsh Residential Schools are being run to provide better education to the children of tribal community. 15 Prayas Residential Schools are being run for the children of Maoist affected areas. In these schools, meritorious students are being prepared for All India Medical and Engineering Entrance Examination.
