Several crucial decisions were taken regarding policies on agriculture, reservation in local elections, teacher mergers, industrial development and social welfare in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan on Monday. The cabinet approved the extension of a Rs 14,700 crore government guarantee to the Chhattisgarh State Co-operative Marketing Federation for paddy procurement in the Kharif marketing year 2023-24. This extension is valid until October 31, 2025, enabling the continuation of essential agricultural support. In a significant step towards inclusive governance, the cabinet approved reservation measures in local body elections as per the recommendations of the Other Backward Classes Welfare Commission. Under this new policy, OBC reservations will reach a cap of 50 per cent, proportional to their population, modifying the previous 25 per cent cap. Where Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes already have 50 per cent or more reservations, OBC reservations will not be applied. However, if the combined SC and ST reservation is below 50 per cent, the OBC reservation will be allocated without exceeding the actual OBC population in that region. Reserved positions such as District Panchayat President and Municipal Corporation Mayor will be calculated based on the total population, ensuring fair representation.

 

The cabinet further approved the merger of 97 teachers from the Panchayat cadre into the School Education Department, with the authorization for additional mergers upon eligibility recommendation. In addition, principals were granted a one-time exemption to approve time-scale pay increments from 2007 to 2019, enhancing the administrative process. A key outcome of the meeting was the approval of the Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Policy 2024-29, which aligns with the “Amritkaal Chhattisgarh Vision @ 2047.” This policy, effective from November 1, 2024, to March 31, 2030, adopts updated definitions for industries and introduces provisions for incentives tailored to regional industrial growth. Development blocks across the state will be categorized into three sectors to determine the level of incentives.

 

The policy includes provisions for core industries like steel, cement, and aluminium and focuses on developing pharmaceutical, textile, food processing and IT sectors with dedicated incentives to boost economic growth. Furthering the state’s vision for 2047, the cabinet approved the ‘Amritkaal: Chhattisgarh Vision @ 2047’ document, charting a long-term development path. As part of Nava Raipur Atal Nagar’s development, the government approved land allocation at concessional rates to foster investment in IT, healthcare, and education. The cabinet also permitted CSIDC to sell 118 acres in Jagdalpur to the Chhattisgarh Housing Board for NMDC staff housing and extended a stamp duty exemption for land purchased for Nava Raipur until March 2026. Social welfare initiatives also saw a boost with the re-launch of the “Mukhyamantri Tirtha Darshan Yojana,” aimed at providing free pilgrimage travel to senior citizens, Divyangjan, widows, and abandoned women once in their lifetime. Initially started in 2012 and later suspended in 2019, the scheme now has a renewed budget of Rs 25 crore. The cabinet also approved the National Education Policy 2020 for the Technical Education Department, promising a more comprehensive and flexible education system with enhanced support for research, innovation, and skill development in alignment with industry needs. Additional decisions included rationalizing registration fees for property transfer documents and approving drafts for amendments in the Chhattisgarh Nagar Palika Act of 1956 and 1961. These changes aim to streamline processes and address public interest efficiently.