Following important decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting today:-
- Fulfilling another guarantee of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Cabinet has taken a major decision in the interest of farmers in Chhattisgarh. Cabinet has decided to implement “Krishak Unnati Yojana” from Kharif 2023-24 with the objective of boosting farmers’ income, crop production and productivity in the state by reducing the input cost. The decision has been taken in backdrop of the MoU signed with the Government of India for decentralized rice procurement.
Cabinet has decided that as proposed, farmers will be provided grant at the rate of Rs 19257 per acre under Krishak Unnati Yojana, based on the quantity of paddy procured in Kharif year 2023. The department will be authorized to take ancillary action accordingly. .
- Cabinet has decided to resume the Samman Nidhi for ‘Loktantra Senani’ (MISAbandhis) and provide the outstanding amount. As of 2018, 430 Loktantra Senani/dependents were given an honorarium of about Rs 9 crore every year in the state.
Those detained for less than One month will be given Rs 8,000 per month, the ones detained for one to five months will be given Rs 15,000 per month and people detained for five months and more will be given Rs 25,000 per month.
Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan Samman Nidhi Rules-2008 were made to provide honorarium to the persons detained under MISA/DIR for political or social reasons in Chhattisgarh during the emergency period in India. These rules were canceled by the General Administration Department by issuing notifications on 23 January 2020 and 29 July 2020. In the Cabinet Meeting held today, decision was taken to cancel the above two notifications and resume Samman Nidhi of Loktantra Senani (MISAbandhis) and provide the outstanding amount, in compliance with the order passed by the Honorable High Court on 26 May 2020. Cabinet has decided to provide the arrears amount for the period from the closure of the Samman Rashi till its resumption on 01 November 2024.
- An important decision was taken to form the Department of Good Governance and Convergence.
A separate department has been formed in the state for effective implementation of public welfare policies, to facilitate best possible use of available resources and to ensure quick resolution of public problems.
Formation of this department will improve the administration, provide easy public access to government’s public welfare schemes and enhance the overall impact of the government initiatives. Digitalization at all levels of the administration will ensure transparency in the system. The department will award Good Governance Fellowship and Chief Minister Excellence Award in Public Administration to promote research and administrative reform and innovative initiatives in the field of good governance in the state. Atal Bihari Vajpayee Good Governance and Policy Analysis Educational Institute and Chhattisgarh State Innovation Commission will come under this department.
- Cabinet has decided to keep the norms of ‘Rajiv Nagar Housing Scheme’ intact, and rename it as “Atal Vihar Yojana”.
It is noteworthy that in year 2011, Housing and Environment Department had renamed Vikas Nagar Yojana as Atal Vihar Yojana. Under this scheme, grants were provided for buildings and government land was allotted for EWS and LIG. This scheme was renamed as Rajiv Nagar Housing Scheme in the year 2021. Cabinet has decided to rename this scheme as “Atal Vihar Yojana”.
- Under the public distribution system, Cabinet has decided to procure sugar from the cooperative sugar factories of the state for distribution of required sugar to Antyodaya and Priority ration card holders from April 2024 to March 2025.
The procurement price of sugar has been fixed at Rs 35,000 per ton (ex-factory and GST extra).
- Cabinet has decided to constitute State Investigation Agency (SIA) for quick effective investigation and prosecution in special cases of terrorism, Naxalism, leftist extremism in the state of Chhattisgarh. This agency will act as the nodal agency of the state for coordination with the National Investigation Agency (NIA). For this, a total of 74 new posts including one Superintendent of Police have been created.
- Keeping in mind the demand made by Chhattisgarh All Departmental Contract Employees Federation and Chhattisgarh MNREGA Employees Federation, a partial amendment was made in Rule 13 (1) of Chhattisgarh Civil Service (Contract Appointment) Rules 2012, under which the employee appointed on contract will be entitled for 30 days of casual leavs instead of 18 days.
- Keeping in mind the interests of the applicants for compassionate appointments, Cabinet has decided that the application will be forwarded to the Collector’s office and the District Collector will take action to provide compassionate appointment on the vacant posts in the subordinate offices in the district. If there are no vacancies available for compassionate appointment in any office in the district, the application will be sent to the Divisional Commissioner’s office. The Divisional Commissioner will forward the case to the Collector of his subordinate district where the post is vacant. The cases of compassionate appointment will be resolved by the Collector and Divisional Commissioner within the prescribed time limit.
- Cabinet has decided to implement “National Education Policy 2020” in the Higher Education Department of Chhattisgarh State.
Implementation of the National Education Policy in the state will lead to the all-round development of the youth and enhance their logical reasoning. Youth will get the facility of multiple entry and multiple exit under the National Education Policy. Having grade based continuous assessment and internal assessment will relieve students from the stress of final exams. With the wide expansion of information technology in higher education, the youth of the state will get global exposure.
- Central Government has constituted NITI Aayog in place of the Central Planning Commission. On similar lines, Cabinet has decided to change the name of State Planning Commission Chhattisgarh to State NITI Aayog Chhattisgarh.
- While presenting the annual budget for the year 2024-25, Chhattisgarh government has set a target of increasing the current GSDP of Chhattisgarh from Rs 5 lakh crore to Rs 10 lakh crore in the next 5 years. 10 strategic pillars have been formulated for this. To expedite the economic development, Cabinet has decided to constitute Chhattisgarh Economic Advisory Council to consult expert institutions and to implement the best practices going on in the country and the world as per the local conditions of Chhattisgarh.
- As the contract with Tata Technology regarding Industrial Training Institute Upgradation Scheme is not in the interest of the state, Cabinet has decided to terminate the contract and deposit the amount of Rs 185.80 crore deposited in the escrow account in the state treasury.
- Cabinet has decided to increase/renew the contractual service of 46 contractual training officers in Directorate of Employment and Training.
- The amendment draft of Chhattisgarh Motor Vehicle Taxation Act 1991 was approved for levy of construction equipment vehicle life span.
- The amendment draft of Chhattisgarh Motor Vehicle Taxation Act 1991 was approved for levy of green tax at the time of new registration, registration renewal or every mutation on vehicles other than battery operated vehicles.