Special emphasis on providing better employment opportunities and promoting economic activities in the state
1,715 new industries established in Chhattisgarh in three years: investment of more than Rs 19,500 crore and employment created for nearly 33 thousand people
MoU for investment of Rs 3300 crore signed with 18 investors for setting up bio ethanol plant in the state
Chhattisgarh Employment Mission: Target set to create 15 lakh jobs in five years
Land plots earmarked for establishment of food parks in 110 development blocks of the state
Industries Department is providing 56 online services through single window system
Simplification of land allotment rules in industrial areas
Action plan made for construction of roads worth more than Rs 21 thousand crore in the state
Gadhkaleva established in 16 districts to encourage Chhattisgarhi cuisine
Minerals, Agriculture, Forestry and Human Resource have made significant contribution in the economy of Chhattisgarh
26th episode of Lokvaani aired today
Chief Minister spoke in detail about the ease of doing business in the state
Raipur, 13 February 2022 / Today at the 26th episode of monthly radio programme ‘Lokvaani’, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel addressed the people of the state on the topic “Sugam Udyog, Vyapar-Unnat Karobaar”, elaborating over the ease of doing business created in the state. Today’s episode of ‘Lokvaani’ was aired from 10.30 am to 11 am from all the AIR centers, FM radio and regional news channels in Chhattisgarh.
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that Chhattisgarh has a favorable environment for industry, trade and commerce. Mr. Baghel invited investors from across the country and the world to visit Chhattisgarh, and see how the vision of ‘Nava Chhattisgarh’ is being realized in this state full of possibilities, with its industry-friendly, business-friendly, trade-friendly, consumer-friendly, pro-tourism and pro-employment policies. Mr. Baghel said that the State Government has always encouraged the works which promote economic activities that create better employment opportunities.
In the today’s episode of Lokvaani, Mr. Baghel said that our forefathers have envisioned Chhattisgarh state without any problem of unemployment. To realize this vision, our government has taken a number of initiatives to ensure livelihood and employment opportunities for everyone in the state.
Mr. Baghel further said that as a result of our decisions and initiatives, rural economy is strengthening and flourishing in the state while industry and commerce sector is also getting benefitted. He added that as Chief Minister, he had announced the industrial policy 2019-2024, in which food, ethanol, electronic, defence, medicine and solar energy based new industries have been given preference. We aim to promote the service sector and tourism sector in Chhattisgarh as well. Provision has been made to provide industrial investment incentive for the 16 services, under MSME Service Category, including electronic vehicle charging station, Service center, BPO, 3D printing, seed grading and others. Chief Minister said that during the COVID crisis, we have observed that many medical equipments can be manufactured on a local level, hence investment incentives have been provisioned for these industries as well. Land lease rate in industrial areas has been reduced by 33%. Rules have been made to convert the land allotted in industrial areas and the land allotted outside the industrial areas (upto 10 acres) from lease-hold to freehold, and notification has been issued in the context. As a result of these efforts, 1715 new industries have been established in Chhattisgarh in three years, wherein Rs 19 thousand 500 crores have been invested and as many as 33 thousand people have been provided employment. Moreover, 149 MoU have been signed, under which Rs 74 thousand crores will be invested and 90 thousand people will get employment. We have signed MoU with 18 investors for investment of Rs 3300 crore, which will create employment for more than two thousand people. We have also asked Central Government for permission to produce ethanol from paddy, if we get the permission, we would be able to utilize the bumper production of paddy in a proper way to produce ethanol on a large scale. This would generate employment for a large number of people and would also help in providing better value of crops to the paddy producing farmers, thereby improving their financial condition, said Chief Minister.
State Government has identified the land plots in 110 development blocks for the establishment of food parks. Special packages for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, women, agricultural producer groups, third-gender people have been included in the industrial policy. Earlier, the policy had no provisions for Other Backward Classes but now 10 percent plots are being reserved for OBC category, which will be made available at 10 percent rate of the land premium rate and 1 percent land rent. Chief Minister has requested people of all the sections of society to take advantage of the new opportunities of employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship in the state.
In the today’s episode of Lokvaani, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel emphasized on the ease and convenience created in Chhattisgarh for establishment of the industries. Certainly the parameters to analyze the ‘ease of doing business’ in a state or a country are determined by World Bank. Chief Minister said he is glad that Chhattisgarh has made it to the top six states of the country in terms of ‘Ease of Doing Business’. Industries Department is providing 56 services online through a single window system. Under e-district system, as many as 82 services (from shop registration to business license) have been made online. We have eliminated the mandate of annual renewal every year under the Gumashta Act, for the convenience of small traders. E-Manec portal is being operated to bring transparency in government’s procurement-related works. In this way, a favourable environment for industry, trade and commerce has been created in the state. As a result, people are saving time, money and energy, as they do not have to go all the way to government offices to get their work done, and they can focus more on their business. We lifted the ban on sale and purchase of small plots of land to create better business and employment opportunities. After which, transaction of 2 lakh 87 thousand land plots took place. Besides the seller and the buyer, the transaction of land plot also benefits the developer, while creating employment opportunities for masons, labourers, carpentars, electricians etc, and providing business to the sellers of cement, iron and construction materials. This money flows to the market, improving the overall economy.
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel further said that development of tourism would also create new employment opportunities in the state on a large scale. Acknowledging the importance of religious harmony and cultural unity in our state, we have decided to develop the places of religious and spiritual significance as pilgrimage centers for the devotees. In the same sequence, we are developing tourism infrastructure in such places across the state. Under Ram Van Gaman Path, 75 places have been identified between Koriya and Sukma. In the first phase, 9 places are being developed. Mata Kaushalya temple premise in Chandkhuri-District Raipur has been renovated and beautified. And now tourists and devotees from across the country have started arriving here. Devgudi and Ghotul sites are being developed in tribal areas. Ultramodern tourism facilities have been developed in places such as Satrenga, Sarodha Dadar, Balachhapar Sarna, Gangrel etc., because of which a large number of people have started visiting these places. This has also generated employment opportunities at the local level. To promote Chhattisgarhi cuisine, Gadhkalewa has been established in 16 districts. We have also introduced Chhattisgarh’s own film development policy.
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that during COVID-crisis, we have not only helped the labourers of Chhattisgarh to return home but also served the labourers from other states passing through Chhattisgarh. We had provided food, accommodation, and quarantine facilities in villages, besides the test and treatment facility. These measures of State Government were appreciated at the national-level. Meanwhile, State Government had also announced policy for migrant workers. And then notification for Chhattisgarh Migrant Workers Policy 2020 was issued. Under this policy, online registration of the returned migrant workers was done and arrangement were made for online maintenance of migration register. State Government is conducting schemes for the welfare of workers in both organized and unorganized sectors. Skill development facilities are also being provided to the workers to enhance their traditional skills with new knowledge. E-shram portal has been created by the Government of India for the registration of unorganized workers. And we have secured the third position in the country by registering 64 lakh workers on this portal. We have extended the retirement age of workers from 58 to 60 years under the Factories Act. Apart from this, two new schemes have been announced on the occasion of 26 January. ‘Chief Minister Labor Resource Center’ will be established at district headquarters and block level.
Soon ‘Mukhyamantri Noni Sashaktikaran Sahayata Yojana’ will be implemented to provide aid for education, employment, self-employment and marriage of the daughters of labour families. Under this scheme, a lump sum amount of 20-20 thousand rupees will be paid in the bank account of the first two daughters of the beneficiaries, registered under ‘Chhattisgarh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board’. In the last three years, there has been an effective check on Naxalism and its violent activities, while the people engaged in industry, trade and business have gained confidence in the government. A positive environment has been created for the economic development of the state, which has led to significent increase in employment opportunities in every sector.
Chief Minister Mr. Baghel said that we have adopted a multi-pronged strategy for infrastructure development. An action plan worth more than Rs 21 thousand crore has been prepared for the construction of roads in the state. Implementation of this plan has been started on various levels. To expand the irrigation capacity of the state, work is being done expeditiously to complete the Kelo Project, Kharang Project, Maniyari Project, Arpa Bhainsajhar Project this year. We have almost doubled the number of doctors and medical staff in the last three years. In order to connect the local youth with the construction works of various departments, we have arranged for E-category registration, in which 5000 youths have been registered at the block level and they have been allotted works costing more than Rs 200 crore. Along with this, Suraji Gaon Yojana is being operated for the development of rural infrastructure. The development of Narva, Garuva, Ghurua and Bari has led to the growth of rural business opportunities on a large scale.
Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel said that four types of resources can contribute the most to the economy of Chhattisgarh – first mineral, second agriculture, third forestry and fourth human resource. Although many attempts have been made in the past to establish mineral based industries in the state, but it has certain limitations. Agriculture, forest and human resource have a huge potential to contribute towards the economy, but this potential has not been seriously worked out earlier. We have changed the entire strategy and approach towards these resources. Instead of mineral based industries, we are giving preference to the industries which do not affect the environment. Agriculture and forestry were given top priority. On one hand, the morale of the paddy producing farmers was boosted, while on the other hand a lot of awareness was created about alternative crops. For years we had been hearing that paddy and poverty go hand in hand. We have disproved this proverb. Now our paddy producing farmers are prosperous and flourishing. This is the reason that there has been a record breaking increase in the productivity and production of paddy in the state. Chhattisgarh creates a new record of paddy procurement every year. In the year 2017-18, there were only 15 lakh 77 thousand registered farmers, which has now increased to 22 lakh 66 thousand. Out of this, 21 lakh 77 thousand farmers have sold paddy. The area under cultivation increased from 22 lakh to 30 lakh 11 thousand hectare. Paddy procurement has increased from 56 lakh 88 thousand to about 98 lakh metric tons. Apart from this, development of maize, sugarcane, oilseeds, pulses, minor cereal crops, horticulture crops is also being done at a rapid pace.
