Homestays in tribal areas, education city – key takeaways from Chhattisgarh Budget

The government, according to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, was making the “most use of technology for efficient governance”.

“GATI for us means giving push to the industrial sector which will get us more investments and in turn will create jobs for locals,” he said.

The budget allocation this year is up from the Rs 1.47 lakh crore earmarked for 2024-2025. While no new taxes were introduced, the state’s capital expenditure (CapEx) saw an increase from Rs 22,300 crore – or 3.93% of the Gross State Domestic Product and 15% of the total Budget – to Rs 26,341 crore (4.14% of GSDP and 16% of the Budget).

The five departments with the highest allocations were the school education department with Rs 22,356 crore, the panchayat and rural development department with Rs 18,461 crore, agriculture department with Rs 13,506 crore, Public Works Department with Rs 9,501 crore, and Food & Civil Supplies Department with Rs 9, 440 crore.

Months after the state rolled out a new industrial policy, the state has allocated Rs 1,420 crore to help implement its key features, such as the emphasis on promoting service sectors, preference to Aginveers and surrendered Maoists and implementation of a single window system for ease of business.

Major allocations and announcements

* The government has announced a rupee per litre reduction in petrol prices. The government has also announced a 17% reduction of VAT in bulk diesel prices

* A new pension fund and 3 percent increase in dearness allowances for state government employees

* The ‘Chhattisgarh Growth and Stability Fund’ to cushion the state in times of financial challenges

* A new National Institute of Fashion Technology in the state and a medi city and an education city in New Raipur

* Survey for interlinking of Mahanadi-Indravati and Sikasar-Kodar rivers

* First phase of establishment of sickle cell anaemia screening centres in all blocks of Chhattisgarh

* Rs 200 crore allocated to develop the state’s ‘first Iconic Tourism Destination’ offering nature, water, and wildlife experiences. The state also unveiled a new homestay policy for the tribal reasons for Bastar and Surguja. Additionally, adventure tourism circuits will be developed in Jashpur to attract more visitors

* The Budget also announced a survey of the Raipur-Durg metro line, the Chief Minister Mobile Tower Scheme for mobile connectivity to remote villages and institution of public transport in rural areas under the Mukhyamantri Parivahan Yojana

* Establishing a Special Operation Group (SOG), similar to the central National Security Guard and a new State Industrial Security Force (SISF), modelled after the CISF

* 3,200 new posts were announced in Bastar Fighters, an armed anti-insurgency force with draftees from remote villages