First Water Policy to be implemented : Irrigated land to be doubled in five years

Positive India: Raipur-Chhattisgarh State Government on Sunday decided to implement the people’s manifesto as early as possible. Under Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel,the authorities will be implementing the First Water Policy to benefit the farmers. The Water Resources Department will give top priority to drinking water and irrigation facilities. The target is to double the agriculture land under irrigation. The document also states that water cess and arrears will be waived-off. The rights of farmers will be safeguarded.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel gave instructions to various departments to prepare a draft plan to implement the promises. The Grade-III and grade-IV State Government employees’ interests will be protected by giving them promotions and Four-tier wage scale. Chief Secretary Ajay Singh is overseeing the various draft proposals.

The senior officers said that targets had been fixed for Excise, Social Welfare, Panchayat and Rural Development Departments, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Finance, General Administration, Science and Technology and Tourism. Industry Department: 200 Food Parks will be established in the entire State to give boost to food processing industry. At least one food park will come up in each and every Division. The farmers will get remunerative prices on various products.

Excise Department: The ultimate aim is to implement Total Prohibition. Gram Sabhas in Bastar and Surguja and other Notified Areas will have total powers in implementing Prohibition. Finance Department: The State Government Grade-III and Grade-IV employees will get promotions and four-tier wage structure.

Social Welfare Department: Senior citizens over and above 60 years of age will get Rs 1000 as pension and those above75 years will get Rs 1500 under the Indira Pension Yojana. All the widows will get Rs 1000 under the Sarva Vidhwa Pension Yojana. Differently-abled persons (Male/Female) will be nominated to panchayats and urban bodies. Old-Age homes will be established in every district headquarters. Nutritious diet scheme will be launched for Elderly persons.

Panchayat and Rural Development Department: MNREGA will be linked with agriculture and animal husbandry activities and the investment will be reduced. Doles will be given to jobless. The hamlets which are still not connected with rural roads scheme will be provided with all-weather roads. Shiksha Karmis who have completed two years of service will be regularized.

Agriculture Department: An amount of Rs 355 a quintal was fixed for sugarcane. Pensions will be provided to old farmers who are unable to do farming-Rs 1,000 to farmers who are over 60 years of age and Rs 1500 to farmers who are above 75 years. A subject on Agriculture studies will be introduced at Primary and Secondary schools. The Budget will be trebled for agriculture research and expansion fund. Agriculture Commission will be constituted which will have rights to formulate policies on agriculture production. Landless and marginal farmers will be permitted community farming on Government land to boost employment. Community farming will be encouraged for optimum utilization of farm land and instruments. Kisan Seva Kendra will be constituted under each patwari area.

Animal Husbandry Department: ‘Goshalas’ will be built for stray cattle so as to lessen the damage to farmers’ crops. Co-Operative Milk Societies will be formed on the lines of Amul Co-Operative.

General Administration Department: Chhattisgarh Lok Pal Act will be implemented. Chief Minister, State Cabinet Ministers and officers will be brought under the Lokpal. Recruitments will be done in temporary posts, Samvida, daily wagers’ category. No employee will be terminated. The Outsourcing of State Government jobs will be totally stopped. The vacant one lakh jobs in the State Government departments will be filled up soon. Science and Technology Department: Policies will be formulated keeping in focus preserving natural resources for the coming generations. Scientific Commission will be constituted . Economists and members of social service organizations will be members of it. Tourism Department: Tourist spots will be developed. Master Plan will be prepared for developing the local economy. Tourism will be developed as an industry in three years. Essential services –tap connections, gas connections, marriage certificates and caste certificates –will be home delivered as usual.