Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel Presents State Budget 2023: Key Highlights [Read Document]

On Monday, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, who also serves as the state’s finance minister, presented the budget for the fiscal year 2023-24. The total value of the budget was over Rs 1 lakh crore. Notably, the Chief Minister presented the budget using a tablet, hence it is being referred to as an “e-Budget”.

The following are the Key Highlights from the Budget Speech: –

• Rs 25 crore has been allocated for “Naveen Yojana” to support unemployed youth.

• Financial assistance of Rs 2500 per month will be provided to those aged between 18-25 years and who have passed Class 12, with a family income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh.

• No new taxes have been announced.

• The Samajik Suraksha Pension Yojana pension amount for elders, widows, and the specially-abled has been raised from Rs 300 to Rs 500.

• The honorarium for Anganwadi Kendra employers has been raised from Rs 6,500 per month to Rs 10,000 per month. Cooks in schools will receive Rs 1,800 and cleaners in schools will receive Rs 2,800, while home guards will receive Rs 6,420.

• Under the Mukhiya Mantri Kanya Vivah Yojana, the financial assistance has been increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.

• Four new medical colleges will be established in the state, and a Light Metro service will be started from Nava Raipur to Durg.

• A scheme to boost women’s employment has been announced.

• Rs 28 crore has been allotted for a new Chhattisgarh Bhawan in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

• Rs 10 crore has been allotted for a composite building and collector bhavan, while Rs. 2.73 crore has been allotted for temple restoration and services.

• Rs 5 crore has been allotted for mobile medical units in remote areas.

• Rs 85 crore has been allotted for the development of a 700-bed integrated hospital building at Dr BR Ambedkar memorial hospital in Raipur. Mental hospitals will also be established in Raipur and Ambikapur.

• Rs 2000 crore has been allotted for the Jal Jeevan Mission Yojana, with an additional Rs 25 crore for setting up rainwater harvesting systems at government buildings.

• Rs 400 crore has been allotted for the development of primary and higher education.

• Rs 500 crore has been allotted for the repair/construction of roads, while Rs 100 crore has been allotted for the Mukhiya Mantra Vriksha Sampada Yojana.

The budget session of the Chhattisgarh Assembly began on Wednesday. The session will have 14 sittings and conclude on March 24. It would be the last budget session of the Government before the state goes to polls at the end of 2023.

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