Ch’garh’s new budget balances global-humanity local needs: Baghel

Raipur, Mar 09: Appropriation Bill presented by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel for year 2021-22 was passed today in Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly. During the discussion on the Bill in the House, Chief Minister said that COVID pandemic has transformed our lives making humanity global, but the development of our environment and resources still needs to be local. The better the balance between global humanism and local needs, the more accurate will be our efforts for equitable development. This is reflected in the strategy of Gadbo Nava Chhattisgarh to implement our vision. The budget for year 2021-22 is a boost to our internal strength and is the initial link to our long-term strategies. With this budget, a new chapter will be written to protect and utilize our resources in the service of Chhattisgarh Mahtari. He said that despite the pandemic, the budget session, winter session and special session of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly were held under the leadership of the Speaker, whereas in many states the assembly sessions were shortened. The winter session of Lok Sabha was not held. Chief Minister said that government is present in the Assembly and prepared for the discussion on Appropriation Bill, but the opposition is running away from the discussion.
Chief Minister said that in the budgets of last three years, state government has made sincere effort to provide justice for all sections of the society including poor, farmers, now after Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyaya Yojana and Godhan Nyaya Yojana, this budget is for agricultural laborers as well. We are launching a new justice scheme to ensure justice to the poor.
Chief Minister said that the size of the appropriation (total expenditure) for the year 2021-22 is Rs. 01 lakh 05 thousand 213 crore. Net expenditure is Rs 97106 crore, revenue expenditure 83027 crore and capital expenditure is 13839 crore. While the total receipts are 97145 crores, revenue receipts 79325 crores, capital receipts 17820 crores. According to the financial indicators, the revenue deficit is Rs 3702 crore, the financial loss is Rs 17461 crore. Estimated GSDP is Rs 03 lakh 83 thousand 98 crore for the year 2021-22, the fiscal deficit as a percentage of GSDP is 4.56 percent. In the budget, 34 percent is for Scheduled Tribes, 13 percent is for Scheduled Castes, 38 percent is for Social Sector, 39 percent is for Economic Sector, the size of agricultural budget is Rs 18466 crore.
According to the provisional estimate of the state’s economic situation for year 2020-21, GSDP of the state is expected to decrease by 1.77 per cent at a steady rate, which is better than the national deficit of 7.7 per cent. In the year 2020-21, the agriculture sector is estimated to grow by 4.61 percent at constant prices, the industrial sector by 5.28 percent and the service sector by 0.75 percent. The estimated growth rate of the state in agriculture, industrial and service sectors is better than the projected growth of 3.4 and minus 9.6 percent and minus 9.8 percent at the national level.
Baghel said that in this year’s budget, 11 new tehsils and 05 new sub-tehsils will be constituted. Under the ownership plan, a drone-based survey of the rural population area will be done and a map of the land held and rights records will be distributed to the residents. Chief Minister said that State Civil Service Medal Scheme will be launched to encourage government servants. 119 new schools will be opened under Swami Atmanand English Medium School Scheme. B.Ed College will be established in Kanker district. There is a provision of Rs 01 crore 80 lakh for establishment of an innovation hub in the campus of Chhattisgarh Regional Science Center.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that 90 types of testing facilities are being provided in the state-of-the-art Hamar Lab operated in Raipur District Hospital and 30 more test facilities will be added here. A provision of Rs 1 crore 50 lakh has been made for establishment of a new community health center. To revive traditional rural business skills, four new development boards Telghani, leather craftsman, iron craftsman and Razakkar Development Board will be constituted. A well-equipped national level boarding school will be established in Nava Raipur on a self-financial model. Kodo, kutki and ragi in scheduled areas of the state will be procured as minor forest produce at the minimum support price.
Chief Minister said that the facility of registration in the e-category has been provided to the graduate unemployed in all the construction departments. Applicants who have passed class 12th in the Scheduled Tribes area have also been given eligibility for registration in the E-category.
Chief Minister said that for infrastructure development, 12 new railway over bridges, 151 new bridges, 585 roads, a new item provision of Rs 504 crore has been made. A provision of Rs 12 crore has been made for construction of 104 roads and 116 bridges in Naxal-affected rural areas. A provision of Rs 150 crore has been made to Chhattisgarh Roads and Infrastructure Development Corporation for the construction of 3900 km of roads and bridges costing Rs 5, 225 crore. A provision of Rs 100 crore for Mukhyamantri Sugam Sadak Yojana, and a provision of Rs 940 crore for 24 roads of 825 km length in the ADB Phase-3 project has been included in the budget. Necessary provision has been made in the budget for road safety construction scheme by identifying accidental areas and black spots to reduce vehicle accidents.