Chhattisgarh Finance Minister OP Choudhary presented a budget of Rs 1,47,446 crore for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the state assembly. After voting to power, this is the first budget of the Vishnu Deo Sai-led BJP government.
Here’s a summary of the key points:
Taxation: No new taxes were announced in the budget, signaling a continuation of the BJP government’s approach from its inauguration in December of the previous year.
Paperless Mode: The budget presentation was conducted in a paperless mode, a first for the state, aligning with modern technological practices.
Vision 2047: The budget reflects the BJP’s vision for the state until 2047, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India). A document titled ‘Amritkaal: Chhattisgarh Vision @2047′ is slated to be dedicated to the people on November 1, with the goal of transforming the state from developing to developed.
Economic Development: The budget is geared towards the economic development of various sectors, including GYAN (education), gareeb (poor), yuva (youth), annadata (farmers), and naari (women). It aims to stimulate infrastructure growth, increase capital expenditure, and promote employment and livelihood opportunities for youth.
Midterm Goal: The first midterm goal outlined in the ‘Chhattisgarh Vision @2047’ document is to double the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) from Rs 5 lakh crore to Rs 10 lakh crore by 2028.
Key Allocations: The budget allocates significant funds for development projects, such as Rs 117 crore for Mahatari Vandana Yojna, Rs 148 crore for high-tech central libraries, and Rs 1,002 crore for housing under the Awas Yojana.
Education Focus: Key policies include the adoption of the National Education Policy 2020 and the establishment of Chhattisgarh Institutes of Technology (CIT), emphasizing the government’s commitment to education upliftment.
Agriculture and Tourism: The budget earmarks funds for agriculture, including Rs 500 crore for the Deendayal Upadhyay Land Agricultural Laborer Scheme, and for religious tourism with allocations for the Shaktipeeth project and Shri Ramlala Darshan Scheme
Artificial Intelligence in Education: The education system is set to be improved with the help of Artificial Intelligence, and a School of Commerce Studies with a business-oriented course will be initiated.
Electricity Subsidies: People in Chhattisgarh will continue to receive electricity bills at subsidized rates.
Infrastructure Development: A State Capital Region (SCR) covering Raipur and Bhilai cities will be established, and industries will be set up in Bastar for processing minor forest produce.