Raipur: Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Mr. Bhupesh Baghel today unfurled tricolor at the main Independence Day event organized at Police Parade Ground of capital city Raipur, on the occasion of 73rd anniversary of Independence Day. Mr. Baghel extended hearty greetings of Independence Day to people of the state. This brief and prestigious I-Day programme was organized in compliance to the guidelines for prevention of corona infection.
Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel said in his I-Day message that we had begun the journey towards ‘Nyay’ (justice) with freedom movement, and now we are on our tryst to ensure justice to each and every person of the state. Rajiv Gandhi Kisaan Nyay Yojana and Godhan Nyay Yojana has been launched for farmers to make them self-dependent. Ensuring justice is our main objective behind manifestation of ‘Nava Chhattisgarh’ vision and this manifestation is not possible without love, support, cooperation and direct participation of people. In this time of global crisis, powers bestowed by Constitution and our identity as Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic has showed us the way. As State Government, we could decide that this is the time to wipe of the tears of weaker section of society and empower them. The Gandhian ideology of serving humanity, Institutions based on Nehru’s vision and the infrastructures developed by him made us competent enough to fight against this pandemic. This also helped us to save our economy in this time of corona crisis and recession. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives to save Nation’s unity and integrity. There sacrifices have helped us rise above the differences of caste, religion, community to reach the heights of development.
Chief Minister bestowed various gifts on people of the state on the occasion. He also announced the launch of Dr Radhabai Diagnostic Centre Scheme and ‘Padhai Tunhar Para’ Scheme. Under Dr Radhabai Diagnostic Centre Scheme, pathology and other medical test services will be provided on concessional rates. In the same way, Padhai Tunhar Para Yojana is being launched for helping children of the community to learn and study.
He said that the facilities provided to the citizens by the 101 ‘Chief Minister Ward Offices’ set up in the municipal corporations are encouraging. Now we are starting ‘Mukhyamantri Mitan Yojana’ in urban areas for home access services, in which applications, documents etc. can be sent by calling the call center. Many types of services will be provided to citizens at their homes at minimum cost, with the help of internet and SMS alerts. “Chief Minister Power Infrastructure Development Scheme” will be started for strengthening the transmission-distribution system of electricity. Mahatma Gandhi Horticulture and Forestry University, 4 new horticulture colleges and a food technology and processing college will be opened in the state. Three special polytechnic colleges will also be opened to promote milk production and fisheries. ‘Ram Van Gaman Tourism Circuit Development Fund’ will be made for the participation of people of the state in this sacred work. In the newly formed district Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, a horticulture college will be opened in the name of Mahant Bisahu Das Ji. To increase the participation of women in administration, the presence of women representatives has been made mandatory in the committees constituted for new appointments and promotions to be held in the state.
In his message to people of the state, Chief Minister extended greetings of Independence Day in Chhattisgarhi dialect and said that-
On the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of India’s independence, I pay humble tribute to the sacrifices of martyrs Gendsingh, Veer Narayan Singh, Mangal Pandey, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaq Ulla Khan, Rani Durgavati, Rani Laxmi Bai, Veerangana Avanti Bai Lodhi and those millions of revolutionaries who dedicated their lives for freedom.
We will always be indebted to Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi and the great leaders such as Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Bhimrao Ambedkar, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who united the country in the long fight for independence and laid the foundation of a Empowered India.
It is because of the great revolutionaries and saints such as Veer Gundadhur, Pt. Ravi Shankar Shukla, Thakur Pyarelal Singh, Dr. Khubchand Baghel, Pt. Sunderlal Sharma, Barrister Chedilal, Yatiyatan Lal, Minimata, Dr. Radhabai, Pt. Vamanrao Lakhe, Mahant Laxminarayan Das, Anantram Barchiha, Maulana Abdul Rauf Khan, Hanu Rohan Khan Bai Parganiha, Kekati Bai Baghel, Mrs. Bela Bai and others that we are living the life of dignity. I humbly salute all these great revolutionaries for connecting Chhattisgarh to National Freedom Movement and for laying the foundation of ideal development.
Today is also a day to remember the legacy of martyrdom and sacrifices of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi. They sacrificed their lives to preserve the unity and integrity of the country so that the country. They firmly stood by their values and principles, and achieved the new heights of success and development, by rising above the boundaries of caste, religion and sect. This year is also the centenary year of the Non-Cooperation Movement. On 1 August 1920, Mahatma Gandhi’s strategy for non-cooperation without any violence turned out to be the decisive action against the British rule.
Mahatma Gandhi had said- I envision India to be a nation, where even the poorest of the poor feel that it is their nation, and their voices are acknowledged in building the nation, and there is complete harmony amongst the various communities. For me, Hindu Swarajya means the state of justice for all people. ….. Our ‘Swarajya’ will depend on our internal strength and endurance to face the biggest difficulties.
Remember the first speech of independent India by The first Prime Minister of India. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had said- ‘We had pledged to meet destiny and now the time has come for us to fulfill our promise.’ ……. In this historic speech by Pandit Nehru, he had said that as long as people have tears in their eyes and they are suffering, our work will not end.
Forgetting the struggles and history of our country, making valueless and opportunistic compromises is not what India is about. The country can be temporarily seduced by the glow of discriminatory shortcut policies and schemes, but this does not yields long-term solutions. The country is once again at the crossroads, where on the one side there is a spark of discrimination and war-frenzy, on the other side, there is the eternal tradition and Gandhian ideology of sacrifice, values, cooperation and non-violence. Certainly we have chosen the Gandhian way.
Today we stand in the midst of the biggest global crisis since independence. This period of global pandemic COVID-19 is a difficult testing time for humanity, but it has also exposed those who once described their developmental methods as humanitarian. Under these adverse circumstances, the power bestowed upon by our constitution and our identity as a socialist, secular, democratic republic protected us and showed us the way. Under the protection of this constitutional power, we could set our priority as a state government to wipe the tears of the weakest sections of society and empower it. Gandhian thinking of serving humanity and Nehruvian institutions and infrastructures empowered us to compete against Corona.
None of us can forget the scene where lakhs of people of the state were coming back to Chhattisgarh from other states, after having lost their livelihood, savings, household. Thousands of people were stranded in different states. Because of lockdown, they were facing difficulties in finding accommodation, food, milk, medicine and other basic facilities. Under such circumstances, State Government along with people of the state and voluntary organizations did commendable work of ensuring safe return of the people. More than five lakh migrant labourers returned home. Nearly 22 thousand quarantine centers have been established in villages to ensure safe and secured return of people to their homes.
These labourers were not only provided employment under MNREGA, but were also provided skill mapping facility so that they may be provided dignified employment in the state. In this period, healthcare services in the state were also alerted, as a result of which recovery rate of infected people in Chhattisgarh has been better than other states and casualty rate has also remained low. Nearly 3 lakh labourers stranded in 21 states and three Union Territories were provided food grains and relief. Moreover, pending payment of labour wages worth Rs 171 crore to nearly 74 thousand labourers was also cleared during the lockdown period. With the help of 107 Shramik Special Trains, not only the labourers of the state were brought back home but arrangement to send labourers of other states to their homes was also made.
During this global pandemic, our Universal PDS Scheme stood the test of time. Nearly 57 lakh antyoday, priority, destitute, disable ration card beneficiaries are being provided rice free of cost. Home-delivery of nutritious food items to beneficiaries of Midday Meal Programme and Aanganbadi is being ensured.
Brothers and sisters, we are the people who consider Gandhi-Nehru-Patel-Bose-Bhagat Singh-Azad-Lal-Bal-Pal as our ideals, the great ones who considered the disaster as an opportunity to serve humanity. In this time of the most painful and terrible tragedy of world history, our government has adopted the same principle of service. Service is our ‘Sanatana Dharma’. By following their footsteps, we have succeeded in saving the economy during the economic recession and corona crisis.
We have made our way in Chhattisgarh by striking balance between our culture, agriculture, villages, jungles, forest produces, natural resources, folk arts, and traditions. We are proud that our Chhattisgarh’s model of economy has turned out to be a troubleshooter in this time of recession.
Corona crisis is a lesson for the entire world. The nations who claimed to be the superpowers turned out to be dwaves in front of a tiny virus and were compelled to rethink their future policies. World is amazed by the strength and endurance of Chhattisgarh, as it remained unaffected by the recession period for last one and a half year.
We have empowered farmers, villagers, tribal people and forest dwellers as well as the common people with our various decisions and actions including paddy procurement at Rs 2500 per quintal, loan waiver, waiving off irrigation taxes, hiking tendupatta collection renumeration to Rs 4000 per standard sack, procurement of 31 forest produces at support price, promoting khadi and gramodyog, halving the domestic electricity bill, 30% reduction in guideline rates of general and industrial lands, reduction in registry rate of residential flats, reduction in lease rent and transfer of industrial land, revenue and labour reforms. We have given nearly Rs 70 thousand crores to farmers, tribal people and forest dwellers. We have provided concessions and relief worth Rs thousand crore to lower and medium income groups. This has enhanced the spending power of common people, which further supported the industry and commerce sector of the state.
We have broken the myth that the economy cannot be driven without expensive and monumental constructions. Our development policy is inspired by the thoughts of local people. Our vision, policy and implementation are so well coordinated that within two annual budget period we managed to become the leading state to generate maximum employment opportunities. Declining rate of unemployment has boosted the confidence of youth.
Even during this corona crisis, Chhattisgarh produced and supplied 26 lakh metric tons of iron-steel products, which proved to be a great support for the entire nation. In last one and half year, 545 new industries have been established in the state, in which Rs 13 thousand crore has been invested and 10 thousand people got employment.
To achieve the goal of establishing one food park in every development block of the state, we have marked land plots in 101 development blocks of 28 districts. 250 hectares of government land in 19 blocks have been transferred. Project of establishing Gems and Jewellery Park in Raipur at the cost of Rs 350 crore has been started. In this way, Chhattisgarh is marching ahead in the direction of developing both conventional and non-conventional industries.
Work efficiency has been improved to boost production and availability of electricity in the state. To strengthen the power transmission-distribution system, ‘Chief Minister Electricity Infrastructure Development Scheme’ is being launched. “Mukhyamantri Sugam Sadak Yojana” has been launched to connect all the government buildings and public facilities with quality roads. Under Chhattisgarh Road Development Corporation, 900-kms fo roads will be repaired and constructed. In our bid to complete the incomplete works under PMGSY, we have got permission for construction of 5600 kms of roads and big bridges in the third phase. We would achieve this target within next three years.
Nearly 22 lakh children are availing the online education facility under ‘Padhai Tunhar Dwar’ scheme and more than two lakh teachers are associated with this system. Expanding this initiatives, we have now decided to launched ‘Padhai Tunhar Para’ to provide education to children with the help of community in villages. For places with no internet connectivity, Bluetooth based ‘Bultu Ke Bol’ system will be utilized to provide study material.
While 37 health centers buildings are being constructed for the development of health infrastructure, 30 hospitals, 3 thousand 383 beds, 517 ICU beds, 479 ventilators have been provided for treatment of corona. 155 isolation centers were developed in the districts where about 10 thousand beds are available. The testing facility, which has reached 6 thousand 500 per day, aims to increase it to 10 thousand per day. Presently 1 thousand 900 health and wellness centers are providing primary health services, which is targeted to be increased to 3 thousand 100 by the next year.
On 26 January 2020, Dr Khubchand Baghel Health Aid Scheme was launched, under which nearly 2 lakh people were provided treatment in only seven months at the cost of Rs 256 crores. Likewise, under Mukhyamantri Swasthy Sahayta Yojana, nearly 270 patients have been provided medical treatment facility in seven months at the cost of Rs 4 crore.
To further expand the reach of health services, Chief Minister Slum Health Scheme will be launched in urban areas, under which doctors will reach at the doorstep of the ones in need with the help of 70 mobile medical units in 14 municipal corporations. Dr Radhabai Diagnostic Centre Scheme will also be launched for providing pathology and other medical test facilities.
We have set a new record while keeping our promise to provide adequate water supply to farmers for irrigation. In year 2019-20, irrigation facility has been provided in nearly 13 lakh hectares. To further expedite this work, Chhattisgarh Irrigation Development Crporation, Indravati Basin Development Authority have been constituted, and Bodhghat Multipurpose Project is being started. I promise that the compensation and rehab package will be finalized after consulting with the people of Bastar. We are aiming to double the irrigation capacity through various schemes in five years.
We are proud to be known as the farmer-oriented government. Under ‘Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana’, we had givenRs 1500 crore as the first installment of the provisioned amount of Rs. 5 thousand 700 crore to you.Second Installment of the same will be provided Rajiv ji’s birth anniversary on 20 August.
Our ‘Suraji Gaon Yojana’ is rapidly taking shape. Narva, Garva, Ghurwa, Bari are developing at an accelerated pace. We have promised to make Gauthan a courtyard for rural economy and folk culture. In the same sequence, ‘Godhan Nyaya Yojana’ has also been started. Now you have to do the work of converting cow dung into money. The system will be ours and prosperity will be yours. From collection to payment, from making vermi compost to selling, from other artistic uses of cow dung to marketing, all your work will be done smoothly. For the interest-free agricultural loan, we have set a target of Rs 5 thousand 200 crore, 72 percent of which has been disbursed in just five months. Thank you for your enthusiasm. You will garner the benefit of this investment in agriculture in the upcoming crop.
We have also decided to open ‘Mahatma Gandhi Horticulture and Forestry University,’ 4 new horticulture colleges and 1 food technical and processing college. Three specialized polytechnic colleges will also be opened to promote milk production and fisheries.
After taking the initiative of justice schemes, now we have announced the ‘Landless Agricultural Laborers Justice Scheme’, which will be implemented soon. It was also the dream of our forefathers and it is our duty to ensure participation of laborers in the development and progress of the state. The ‘Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Scheme’ has proved its worth in this era of crisis. Since the inception of the scheme, we have created a record of providing employment to 25 lakh workers daily. We have also been ranked second in the country in terms of providing 100 days of employment. We have extended the scope of its usefulness by linking MNREGA with many important works like lease of forest rights, construction work in panchayats, food preservation, water promotion, construction of Gothan.
We have launched Shaheed Mahendra Karma Tendupatta Sangrahak Samajik Suraksha Yojana to provide security to tendupatta collectors, under this scheme, nethier they would have to pay premium nor they would have to wait for months for the insurance claim. Also, we have started procurement of 31 forest produce instead of seven, which has benefited lakhs of families. We have become the highest forest produce collecting state of the country in such short span.
‘The “Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act-2006” is a shining example of our heritage. You all know why it has not been implemented properly? What made a mountain of aborted claims and why there was disinterest in the distribution of community leases? We had decided that we would review the revoked claims and give community leases on priority. In this way, forest rights are being leased with high priority now, which has started a new era of livelihood, self-reliance and rights. Our achievements are the highest in the country.
The forest produce business in tribal areas definitely gives opportunity to live a dignified life, but the addition of processing facilities, now branding like Bastar cashew nut, Bastar tamarind, Bastar maize, Bastar turmeric etc. is further creating employment opportunities as well as the profits for the new generation. We are opening new doors of education, health, skills, efficiency, necessary infrastructure in tribal areas. The success of the ‘Malaria Free Bastar’ campaign is promising. At the same time, the aspirational district ‘Bijapur’ has been ranked first in the country.
In order to preserve the memories of Mata Kaushalya, Lord Rama and the various legends about them, we have planned ‘Ram Van Gaman Tourism Circuit’ development from ‘Koriya to Sukma’, and are also implementing it at a rapid pace. The work of giving a grand appearance to the Mata Kaushalya temple premise has been started in Chandkuri. In order to give an opportunity to the people of the state to participate in this sacred work, ‘Ram Van Gaman Tourism Circuit Development Fund’ will be formed. In all the gram panchayats of the state, the tourism circuit will be promoted through LED vehicles.
We started the cultural uplift by declaring holidays on days like Hareli, Teja, Bhakt Mata Karma Jayanti, World Tribal Day, and now to further the cause, Chhattisgarh Culture Council has been formed. A Film City will also be developed in Nava Raipur. The proceedings for the establishment of Swami Vivekananda memorial in Raipur have been initiated. To promote traditional Chhattisgarhi cuisine, ‘Garh Kaleva’ center will be opened in each district. Ironically, even in the twentieth year of state formation, Chhattisgarhi language has not got its due, so I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister requesting that Chhattisgarhi should be included in the Eighth Schedule.
We have fulfilled the years old dream of this region by forming the Gourela-Pendra-Marwahi district. Development work worth crores of rupees has been awarded, with Marwahi Sub-DIvision, Marwahi Nagar Panchayat. Today I announce that a horticulture college will also be opened in Marwahi in the name of Mahant Bisahu Das Ji. I promise that this new district will touch the new peaks of public welfare schemes and all-round development.
I am glad to say that we have brought a lot of improvement in the law and order situation in the state by increasing the morale and facilities of the security forces. Police officers-employees have been linked to mobile connectivity. Great relief has been provided in the form of leaves, compassionate appointment, health facilities and response allowances. State Disaster Response Force personnel have been given 50 percent risk allowance. At the same time, community policing has been strengthened by programs like Women’s Desk, Women’s Helpline, Senior Citizen Helpline, Anjor Rath, Police Janmitra, Village Defense Committee, Spandan etc.
I had said that our first step on the Naxalite front would be to restore mutual trust and goodwill between the affected parties and then the development works to meet local aspirations would be conducted in the affected areas. Today I can say that Naxalite incidents have been curbed and tribal areas are undergoing significant development, which prove the success of our strategy. The journey of justice that we started from the freedom struggle, is now reaching to the people. This is the basis of our dreams and intentions to create ‘Nava Chhattisgarh’, which cannot come true without your love, support, support and direct participation.
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