Asserting that Chhattisgarh has tremendous development potentials, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel sought centre’s assistance to realize those potentialities.
Baghel was addressing a delegation of 15th finance commission headed by its chairperson N.K. Singh. His cabinet colleagues were also present on the occasion.
Citing various welfare schemes undergoing in the state, Baghel urged the finance commission members to help achieve the state’s development target by assisting it in the fields of education, health, employment and malnutrition.
The finance commission members were apprised of the challenges before the state in improving Human Development Index (HDI), environmental conservation, leftwing extremism, regional imbalance and challenges of development of forest areas.
Chairperson of the commission Singh assured that the state would be provided all possible help to meet these challenges.
The CM also apprised the finance commission about financial burden it has taken to provide a minimum support price of Rs 2500 for paddy, slash power tariff of up to 400 units by half and launch universal PDS system which ascertains food for all and provides 35 kgs of rice to Above Poverty Line (APL) families along with the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
Baghel also briefed the commission members about his government’s flagship “Suraji Gaon Scheme’ which ensures conservation and development of ‘Narva Garva Ghurva Badi’ (NGGB).
Citing loss to state due to enforcement of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the CM said the compensation to state for that was meager and was also time bound till the year 2022. He urged the finance commission members to extend it further for next five year i.e. till 2027.
Baghel also urged the finance commission delegation to increase the state’s share in central tax from 42% to 50%. Citing that since the inception of Chhattisgarh state it has maintained financial discipline, Baghel also demanded that instead of revenue deficit equalization grant must be provided for health, education and infrastructure development.
