Chhattisgarh CM Proposes MNREGA Scheme for Urban Areas with Populations Under 20,000

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel suggested on Sunday that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) be implemented in rural areas near cities and cities with fewer than 20,000 people. MGNREGA is a demand-driven wage employment programme that provides households in rural areas with livelihood security by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed employment each year.

The Chief Minister told the 7th Governing Council of NITI Aayog, which met here under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, that "MGNREGA should be implemented in rural areas near cities and cities with a population of less than 20,000." In addition to the meeting's agenda items, the Chief Minister spoke on a variety of schemes and topics of state interest."

The Chief Minister also proposed that agricultural research institutes be charged with providing free seeds of newly developed crop varieties, mini kits, and breeder seeds on a large scale to ensure crop diversification and an increase in pulse and oilseed production and productivity.

"Chhattisgarh is self-sufficient in food grain production and has taken many innovative measures to increase the state's production of pulses and oilseeds," he said.

To promote crop diversification, the Chhattisgarh government has begun the implementation of the ‘Mukhyamantri Vriksharopan Protsaahan Yojana,’ under which a provision has been made to provide Rs 10,000 per hectare to farmers who cultivate pulses, oilseeds, or do plantation instead of paddy. Along with the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, the Chhattisgarh Millet Mission has been established.

The Chief Minister stated that NITI Aayog has praised the state's aspirational districts for their improved performance over the last three and a half years. However, the state still has resource issues that must be addressed. He also requested that the Forest Conservation Act be relaxed to allow the construction of 5 MW solar power plants in 10 aspirational districts of Chhattisgarh. Concerning the implementation of the National Education Policy, the Chief Minister stated that many significant steps have been taken in the state in this direction.

"The state government has started Swami Atmanand Excellent English Medium Schools in Chhattisgarh with the goal of providing good quality infrastructure, equipment, educational and co-curricular activities in government schools," Baghel said.

The chief minister stated that Chhattisgarh has won the state clean survey for three years in a row while speaking on the agenda of urban administration. Solid waste management in the state's urban areas has been improved.

Baghel also reiterated the state's demand for GST compensation, the transfer of funds collected as an "additional levy" from coal block companies, and reimbursement of Rs 11 thousand 828 crores spent by the state government to combat Naxalism.

The Chief Minister stated that there has been a loss of revenue to the states as a result of the GST tax system and that the Center has not made arrangements to compensate for the loss of revenue to the state of about Rs 5000 crores in the coming year, so the GST compensation grant should be extended for the next five years, even after June 2022. He claimed that Chhattisgarh received Rs 13,089 crore less in central tax shares over the last three years, putting extreme strain on the state's resources. The state should receive the entire share of central taxes in the upcoming budget.

He also demanded that Rs 4,140 crore, which coal block companies had deposited with the centre at a rate of Rs 294 per tonne, be transferred to Chhattisgarh as soon as possible. "Iron ore mines operating in the state account for approximately 65 percent of the state's mineral revenue." As a result, revision of royalty rates is required in the state's financial interest," he stated.

He requested that royalty rates for coal and other major minerals be revised. The Chief Minister asked for prompt action on other state government demands, such as refunding deposits in the New Pension Scheme and ensuring the availability of jute gunny bags.

The Niti Aayog's 7th governing council meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is currently underway at the Rashtrapati Bhawan's Cultural Centre in the national capital.

Chief Ministers from all states, with the exception of Telangana, and Union Territories, legislators, Lt Governors of UTs, Ex-Officio Members, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Full-Time Members of NITI Aayog, and Union Ministers as Special Invitees, will attend the meeting. Notably, this is the Governing Council's first in-person meeting since July 2019.

Crop diversification and achieving self-sufficiency in oilseeds and pulses are on the agenda for the Niti Aayog meeting, as are implementation of the National Education Policy-school education, implementation of the National Education Policy-higher education, and urban governance.